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2021-08-20 01:45:49+00:00
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2021-08-18 00:00:00
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Clouds of smoke obscured the sun, which cast an otherworldly, orange light over the capital.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindianexpress.com%2Fworld%2F2021%2Faug%2F18%2Fgreek-wildfires-big-blaze-threatens-village-outside-athens-2346590.html.json
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en
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By Associated Press
ATHENS: 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 on Wednesday.
The blaze in the Vilia area broke out Monday shortly after another wildfire started to the southwest of Athens.
Several other villages and a nearby nursing home received evacuation orders.
On Wednesday, a shift in the wind direction drove the flames towards Vilia, some 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Athens.
Greek media said outlying buildings were damaged, but no injuries were reported and no evacuation order was issued for the village.
Clouds of smoke obscured the sun, which cast an otherworldly, orange light over the capital.
Local mayor Christos Stathis told Open TV that the fire was within a few dozen yards from Vilia, and appealed for firefighting aircraft to be deployed to the spot.
Hundreds of wildfires have burned across Greece this month, fueled by parched forests and shrubland from the country's most severe heat wave in decades.
The blazes have stretched the country's firefighting capabilities to the limit, leading the government to appeal for international help, including through a European Union emergency response system.
About two dozen European and Middle Eastern countries responded, sending planes, helicopters, vehicles and hundreds of firefighters.
Intense heat and wildfires have also struck other Mediterranean countries.
Firefighters in France worked to contain a forest fire along the French Riviera on Tuesday, and recent wildfires have killed at least 75 people in Algeria and 16 in Turkey.
Worsening drought and heat have also fueled wildfires in the western United States and in Russia's northern Siberia region.
Greece's fire department said 370 firefighters, including 143 from Poland, were deployed at the Vilia fire on Wednesday, along with 130 vehicles, eight helicopters and three planes.
The army, volunteer firefighters and local authorities also provided assistance.
By midday Wednesday, an estimated 7,500 hectares (18.500 acres) of forest had been destroyed in the area.
Satellite imagery from Tuesday published on Twitter by the European Commission's defense industry and space department showed a giant plume of smoke from the Vilia fire extending south for hundreds of kilometers along the entire length of the Peloponnese.
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www.newindianexpress.com
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Greek wildfires: Big blaze threatens village outside Athens
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2021/aug/18/greek-wildfires-big-blaze-threatens-village-outside-athens-2346590.html
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2021-08-20 01:46:28+00:00
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2021-08-16 00:00:00
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The ASEAN five-point consensus states that there shall be an immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar and all parties shall exercise utmost restraint.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindianexpress.com%2Fworld%2F2021%2Faug%2F18%2Findia-welcomes-asean-consensus-on-myanmar-ambassador-tirumurti-2346353.html.json
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en
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By PTI
UNITED NATIONS: India chaired a closed UN Security Council meeting on Myanmar and welcomed the ASEAN five-point consensus on Tuesday.
"Chaired closed UN #SecurityCouncil meet on Myanmar. Appreciate briefing by Foreign Minister II of Brunei Darussalam Dato Erywan Yusof, who is ASEAN Special Envoy to Myanmar," India's Permanent Representative to the UN and current President of UN Security Council Ambassador T S Tirumurti tweeted.
"India welcomes @ASEAN Five-Point Consensus' & looks forward to early visit to Myanmar of ASEAN Envoy," he said.
The ASEAN five-point consensus states that there shall be an immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar and all parties shall exercise utmost restraint; constructive dialogue among all parties concerned shall commence to seek a peaceful solution in the interests of the people.
It said a special envoy of the ASEAN Chair shall facilitate mediation of the dialogue process, with the assistance of the secretary-general of ASEAN; ASEAN shall provide humanitarian assistance through the AHA Centre (ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management); and the special envoy and delegation shall visit Myanmar to meet with all parties concerned.
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www.newindianexpress.com
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India welcomes ASEAN consensus on Myanmar: Ambassador Tirumurti
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2021/aug/18/india-welcomes-asean-consensus-on-myanmar-ambassador-tirumurti-2346353.html
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2021-08-20 01:44:36+00:00
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2021-08-18 00:00:00
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The U.S. branded the Haqqani network a terrorist group in 2012, and its involvement in a future government could trigger international sanctions.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindianexpress.com%2Fworld%2F2021%2Faug%2F18%2Fafghanistans-former-president-hamid-karzai-meets-senior-taliban-faction-leader-2346493.html.json
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en
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By Associated Press
KABUL: Afghanistan's former president has met with a senior leader of a powerful Taliban faction who was once jailed and whose group has been listed by the U.S. as a terrorist network.
Former President Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, a senior official in the ousted government met with Anas Haqqani as part of preliminary meetings that a spokesman for Karzai said would would facilitate eventual negotiations with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the top Taliban political leader.
The U.S. branded the Haqqani network a terrorist group in 2012, and its involvement in a future government could trigger international sanctions.
The Taliban have pledged to form an “inclusive, Islamic government,” although skeptics point to its past record of intolerance for those not adhering to its extreme interpretations of Islam.
WATCH | Timeline: What USA has done in Afghanistan since Taliban's exit in 2001:
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www.newindianexpress.com
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Afghanistan's former President Hamid Karzai meets senior Taliban faction leader
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2021/aug/18/afghanistans-former-president-hamid-karzai-meets-senior-taliban-faction-leader-2346493.html
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2021-08-20 01:50:26+00:00
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2021-08-19 00:00:00
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindianexpress.com%2Fworld%2F2021%2Faug%2F19%2Fashraf-ghani-says-in-talks-to-return-to-afghanistan-after-fleeing-to-uae-2346637.html.json
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en
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By AFP
ABU DHABI: Former Afghan president Ashraf Ghani said Wednesday he hopes to return home, after fleeing to the United Arab Emirates in the face of the Taliban's rapid advance, and said he supported talks between the Taliban and top former officials.
"For now, I am in the Emirates so that bloodshed and chaos is stopped," he said in a video message -- his first appearance since leaving the capital on Sunday. He noted he had "no intention" to remain in exile.
"I am currently in talks to return to Afghanistan."
The United Arab Emirates announced earlier in the day that it was hosting Ghani "on humanitarian grounds".
In his message posted to Facebook, Ghani added that he supports talks between the Taliban and top former government officials, after it emerged that Taliban members had met with former president Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, who headed the failed peace process.
Taliban leaders have said they have "pardoned all former government officials", according to the monitoring group SITE.
Ghani succeeded Karzai as leader of Afghanistan in 2014.
ALSO WATCH:
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www.newindianexpress.com
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Ashraf Ghani says 'in talks to return' to Afghanistan after fleeing to UAE
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2021/aug/19/ashraf-ghani-says-in-talks-to-return-to-afghanistan-after-fleeing-to-uae-2346637.html
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2021-08-20 01:44:56+00:00
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2021-08-18 00:00:00
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Zara Rutherford been traveling in small planes since the age of six, began jumping out of them - with a parachute -aged 11, then started flying herself at 14.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindianexpress.com%2Fworld%2F2021%2Faug%2F18%2Fbelgian-brit-teen-seeks-to-break-womens-solo-flight-record-2346478.html.json
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en
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By Associated Press
KORTRIJK: A Belgian-British teenager took to the skies Wednesday in her quest to become the youngest woman to fly around the world solo.
Nineteen-year-old Zara Rutherford took off from an airstrip in Kortrijk, western Belgium in gusty, overcast conditions with her parents looking on.
Rutherford is aiming to break the record set by American aviator Shaesta Waiz, who was 30 when she set the world benchmark in 2017.
Rutherford aims to fly her Shark fast, light sport aircraft over five continents and 52 countries in an aerial trek that's likely to take 2-3 months.
She said she wants to inspire girls and young women to get into aviation and encourage them to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Rutherford hails from a family of pilots.
She's been traveling in small planes since the age of six, began jumping out of them - with a parachute -aged 11, then started flying herself at 14.
She's logged about 130 hours of solo flights.
Her plane is specially fitted out for the journey.
It's normally a two-seater but an extra fuel tank now takes up one of those places.
That will also help erase any doubts about whether she's flying alone.
The Shark is too small for long-distance flying over the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
For the crossing over the Atlantic, Rutherford will fly up through Europe and over Greenland.
She'll head down through the United States, then back up to Alaska to cross the Pacific.
From there, she'll head across Asia back to Europe.
The men's record for a solo round the world flight is held by 18-year-old Travis Ludlow from Britain.
Rutherford hopes that by narrowing the gap from 12 years to just one, she'll show other young women and girls that the sky's the limit when it comes to making their own mark on the history of aviation.
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www.newindianexpress.com
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Belgian-Brit teen seeks to break women's solo flight record
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2021/aug/18/belgian-brit-teen-seeks-to-break-womens-solo-flight-record-2346478.html
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2021-08-20 01:46:02+00:00
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2021-08-18 00:00:00
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The law, initially designed to combat the city's triad organised crime gangs, contains wide investigatory powers for the police and heavier sentences for those convicted.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindianexpress.com%2Fworld%2F2021%2Faug%2F18%2Fhong-kong-adds-wildlife-trafficking-to-organised-crime-law-2346451.html.json
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en
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By AFP
Hong Kong passed a new law on Wednesday that classifies wildlife trafficking as an organised crime issue, a move welcomed by conservationists because it will give law enforcement wider powers to combat the trade.
With its busy port and transport links, Hong Kong has been thriving as a major transit point for illegal parts of endangered animals like elephants, rhinos and pangolins -- most of it headed for consumers in mainland China.
On Wednesday lawmakers added illicit wildlife smuggling to the city's Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance, putting the trade on a par with drug and human trafficking.
The law, initially designed to combat the city's triad organised crime gangs, contains wide investigatory powers for the police and heavier sentences for those convicted.
Courts also have broader powers to confiscate the proceeds of organised crime.
Wildlife seizures have reached new peaks in the past two years, including a record 8.3 tonnes of pangolin scales as well as 2.1 tonnes of ivory, according to a legislative filing.
The largest seizure of rhino horn -- 82.5 kilograms -- was made in 2019 at the airport.
But arrests of those who really benefit from the lucrative trade are rare.
A university study released last year found no wildlife traffickers have ever been prosecuted for money laundering related offences and no syndicates indicted for wildlife smuggling.
That study cited the failure to classify wildlife trafficking as organised crime as a major reason for the lack of convictions.
Jovy Chan, wildlife conservation manager from World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Hong Kong), welcomed that correction.
"Traffickers exploit the Hong Kong Ports for continuous trade of the world's most endangered species of wild fauna and flora. The volume of trade is on the rise, contributing to the global extinction crisis," she said.
"The amendment to the legislation is beneficial to collecting evidence for prosecutions in a bid to enhance the deterrent effect for the effective tackle of smuggling activities."
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www.newindianexpress.com
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Hong Kong adds wildlife trafficking to organised crime law
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2021/aug/18/hong-kong-adds-wildlife-trafficking-to-organised-crime-law-2346451.html
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2021-08-20 01:50:46+00:00
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2021-08-19 00:00:00
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The same data for about 7.8 million current T-Mobile postpaid customers appears to be compromised.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindianexpress.com%2Fworld%2F2021%2Faug%2F19%2Fdata-of-more-than-40-million-exposed-in-t-mobile-breach-2346634.html.json
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en
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By Associated Press
NEW YORK: The names, Social Security numbers and information from driver's licenses or other identification of just over 40 million former and prospective customers that applied for T-Mobile credit were exposed in a recent data breach, the company said Wednesday.
The same data for about 7.8 million current T-Mobile postpaid customers appears to be compromised.
No phone numbers, account numbers, PINs, passwords, or financial information from the nearly 50 million records and accounts were compromised, it said.
T-Mobile also confirmed that approximately 850,000 active T-Mobile prepaid customer names, phone numbers and account PINs were exposed.
The company said that it proactively reset all of the PINs on those accounts.
No Metro by T-Mobile, former Sprint prepaid, or Boost customers had their names or PINs exposed.
There was also some additional information from inactive prepaid accounts accessed through prepaid billing files.
T-Mobile said that no customer financial information, credit card information, debit or other payment information or Social Security numbers were in the inactive file.
The announcement comes two days after T-Mobile said that it was investigating a leak of its data after someone took to an online forum offering to sell the personal information of cellphone users.
The company said Monday that it had confirmed there was unauthorized access to 'some T-Mobile data' and that it had closed the entry point used to gain access.
The company said that it will immediately offer two years of free identity protection services and is recommending that all of its postpaid customers change their PIN.
Its investigation is ongoing.
T-Mobile, which is based in Bellevue, Washington, became one of the country's largest cellphone service carriers, along with AT&T and Verizon, after buying rival Sprint.
T-Mobile has previously disclosed a number of data breaches over the years, including in Nov. 2019 and Aug. 2018, both of which involved unauthorized access to customer information.
In 2015, hackers stole personal information belonging to about 15 million T-Mobile wireless customers and potential customers in the U.S., which they obtained from credit reporting agency Experian.
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www.newindianexpress.com
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Data of more than 40 million exposed in T-Mobile breach
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2021/aug/19/data-of-more-than-40-million-exposed-in-t-mobile-breach-2346634.html
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2021-08-20 01:46:48+00:00
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2021-08-18 00:00:00
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindianexpress.com%2Fworld%2F2021%2Faug%2F18%2Fmullah-abdul-ghani-baradars-rise-charts-talibans-long-road-back-to-power-2346572.html.json
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en
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By Associated Press
KABUL: The Taliban's top political leader, who made a triumphal return to Afghanistan this week, battled the U.S and its allies for decades but then signed a landmark peace agreement with the Trump administration.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar is now expected to play a key role in negotiations between the Taliban and officials from the Afghan government that the militant group deposed in its blitz across the country.
The Taliban say they seek an "inclusive, Islamic" government and claim they have become more moderate since they last held power.
But many remain skeptical, and all eyes are now on Baradar, who has said little about how the group will govern but has proven pragmatic in the past.
ALSO READ | UAE accepts Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, family under 'humanitarian considerations'
Baradar's biography charts the arc of the Taliban's journey from an Islamic militia that battled warlords during the civil war in the 1990s, ruled the country in accordance with a strict interpretation of Islamic law and then waged a two-decade insurgency against the U.S.
His experience also sheds light on the Taliban's complicated relationship with neighboring Pakistan.
Baradar is the only surviving Taliban leader to have been personally appointed deputy by the late Taliban commander Mullah Mohammed Omar, giving Baradar near-legendary status within the movement.
And he is more far more visible than the Taliban's current supreme leader, Maulawi Hibatullah Akhunzada, who is believed to be in hiding in Pakistan and only releases occasional statements.
On Tuesday, Baradar landed in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban movement he helped found in the mid-1990s.
Ending 20 years of exile, he was thronged by well-wishers as he stepped off a Qatari government aircraft and drove off in a convoy.
ALSO READ | Afghanistan's former President Hamid Karzai meets senior Taliban faction leader
Baradar, who is in his early 50s, was born in the southern Uruzgan province.
Like others who would eventually become Taliban leaders, he joined the ranks of the CIA- and Pakistan-backed mujahideen to fight against the Soviet Union during its decadelong occupation of the country that ended in 1989.
In the 1990s, the country slid into civil war, with rival mujahideen battling one another and carving out fiefdoms.
Warlords set up brutal protection rackets and checkpoints in which their forces shook down travelers to fund their military activities.
In 1994, Mullah Omar, Baradar and others founded the Taliban, which means religious students.
The group mainly consisted of clerics and young, pious men, many of whom had been driven from their homes and had known only war.
Their unsparing interpretation of Islam unified their ranks and set them apart from the notoriously corrupt warlords.
Baradar fought alongside Mullah Omar as he led the Taliban through its seizure of power in 1996 and its return to an insurgency following the 2001 U.S.-led invasion.
During the group's 1996-2001 rule, the president and governing council were based in Kabul.
But Baradar spent most of his time in Kandahar, the spiritual capital of the Taliban, and did not have an official government role.
The U.S. invaded Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks, which had been planned and carried out by Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida while it was sheltering under Taliban rule.
Baradar, Omar and other Taliban leaders fled into neighboring Pakistan.
In the ensuing years, the Taliban were able to organize a potent insurgency based in rugged and semi-autonomous tribal areas along the border.
Baradar was arrested in Pakistan's southern city of Karachi in 2010 in a joint raid by the CIA and Pakistan's counterterrorism forces.
At the time, he had been making peace overtures to Afghanistan's then-President Hamid Karzai, but the U.S. was bent on military victory and it appeared that Pakistan wanted to ensure control over any political process.
Baradar's removal empowered more radical leaders within the Taliban who were less open to diplomacy.
ALSO WATCH:
Karzai later confirmed the overtures to The Associated Press and said he had twice asked the Americans and the Pakistanis to free Baradar but was rebuffed.
Baradar himself refused an offer of release in 2013, apparently because the U.S. and Pakistan conditioned it on his cooperation.
Karzai, who is now involved in talks with the Taliban about shaping the next government, could once again find himself negotiating with Baradar.
By 2018, the Taliban had seized effective control over much of Afghanistan's countryside.
The Trump administration, looking for a way out of America's longest war, persuaded Pakistan to release Baradar that year and began pursuing peace talks with the Taliban.
Baradar led the Taliban's negotiating team in Qatar through several rounds of those talks, culminating in a February 2020 peace agreement.
He also met with then-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Under the deal, the Taliban agreed to halt attacks on international forces and prevent Afghanistan from again becoming a haven for terror groups in return for a full U.S. withdrawal, now planned for the end of the month.
Last week, the Taliban pushed into the country's cities, seizing nearly all of the country in matter of days and then rolled virtually unopposed into the capital, Kabul.
In his first comment after the capture of Kabul on Sunday, Baradar acknowledged his surprise, saying that "it was never expected that we will have victory in Afghanistan."
Wearing a black turban and vest over a white robe, the bespectacled Baradar looked straight into the camera.
"Now comes the test," he said.
"We must meet the challenge of serving and securing our nation, and giving it a stable life going forward."
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Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar's rise charts Taliban's long road back to power
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2021/aug/18/mullah-abdul-ghani-baradars-rise-charts-talibans-long-road-back-to-power-2346572.html
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2021-08-20 01:44:23+00:00
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2021-08-18 00:00:00
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Pakistan is accused of facilitating the Taliban rebellion, which ultimately resulted in the capturing of Afghanistan after being ousted from power about 20 years ago.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindianexpress.com%2Fworld%2F2021%2Faug%2F18%2Fafghan-crisis-due-to-us-policy-failure-to-deal-with-duplicitous-pakistan-says-top-american-senato-2346368.html.json
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en
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By PTI
WASHINGTON: An influential US Senator has said that America's "failure" to have an effective policy to deal with a "duplicitous" Pakistan is one of the key reasons for the current situation in Afghanistan.
Pakistan is accused of facilitating the Taliban rebellion, which ultimately resulted in the capturing of Afghanistan after being ousted from power about 20 years ago.
Expressing deep concern about the evolving humanitarian crisis in the war-torn nation, Senator Jack Reed, Chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, on Tuesday said, There are no easy answers to how we got here. I would argue that several factors over the last 20 years of war in Afghanistan have shaped this outcome and must be considered as we move forward and engage in future conflicts.
These factors," he said, "include a disastrous pivot to a war of choice in Iraq, a failure to have an effective policy to deal with a duplicitous Pakistan, a failure of mission creep from counter-terrorism; and a lack of ability to build an effective Afghan government and security forces.
These failures were compounded by the failures of the Doha agreement by former president Donald Trump which won the United States very little, the Democratic Senator said.
The Afghan crisis also happened due to the "failures of intelligence, diplomacy and a lack of imagination as we transitioned military forces from the country", he said.
The longstanding war in Afghanistan reached a watershed moment on Sunday when the Taliban insurgents closed in on Kabul before entering the city and took over the presidential palace, forcing embattled President Ashraf Ghani to flee the country.
The Afghan crisis, Reed said, is "not a Democratic or a Republican problem.
These failures have been manifesting over four presidential administrations of both political parties.
The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold hearings on what went wrong in Afghanistan and lessons learned to avoid repeating those mistakes, he added.
Meanwhile, Congressman Mike Waltz demanded that the US should freeze aid to Pakistan.
He also said that there are three strategic goals for China engaging the Taliban.
The goals are, he said, being a partner with Pakistan against India; ensure that the Taliban doesn't cooperate with the Uighurs in Western China or provide sanctuary in Afghanistan; and access to USD 1 trillion worth of critical minerals in Afghanistan.
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www.newindianexpress.com
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Afghan crisis due to US policy failure to deal with 'duplicitous' Pakistan, says top American Senator
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2021/aug/18/afghan-crisis-due-to-us-policy-failure-to-deal-with-duplicitous-pakistan-says-top-american-senato-2346368.html
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2021-08-20 01:50:32+00:00
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2021-08-19 00:00:00
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As per the new guidelines, only one person from a household would be permitted to go out and purchase essentials while all shopping malls have been asked to shut.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindianexpress.com%2Fworld%2F2021%2Faug%2F19%2Fbusinesses-in-sri-lanka-impose-self-lockdown-as-covid-19-cases-rise-2346639.html.json
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en
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By Associated Press
COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan government on Wednesday issued fresh guidelines restricting the movement of people even as businesses have started imposing a self-lockdown in view of the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country.
As per the new guidelines, only one person from a household would be permitted to go out and purchase essentials while all shopping malls have been asked to shut.
These guidelines are to be in force until the end of August, the Director General Health Services Asela Gunawardena said.
Meanwhile, the health trade unions held protests to urge the government to order a total lockdown to arrest the third wave of coronavirus.
ALSO READ | WHO warns against taking Covid boosters before first vaccines
"We ask the government to lockdown the country for 10 days," said Ravi Kumudesh, a health trade unionist.
In several areas, businesses are imposing self-lockdowns.
Shops remain shut as the number of cases have seen a rapid increase.
The government has decided to purchase nine million doses of Sinopharm and 14 million doses of Pfizer vaccines, the Cabinet spokesman and minister Ramesh Pathirana told reporters.
He said that the aim was to vaccinate all above 18 by September 30.
According to the health ministry, over 2,400 new infections were recorded on Wednesday.
With 174 more fatalities, the death toll has crossed the 6,400-mark, the ministry added.
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www.newindianexpress.com
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Businesses in Sri Lanka impose self-lockdown as Covid-19 cases rise
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2021/aug/19/businesses-in-sri-lanka-impose-self-lockdown-as-covid-19-cases-rise-2346639.html
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2021-08-20 01:47:01+00:00
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2021-07-26 00:00:00
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Navalny's organisations and websites have been hit with at least one major leak in recent months.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindianexpress.com%2Fworld%2F2021%2Faug%2F18%2Fnavalny-supporters-accuse-russian-police-of-visits-after-leak-2346454.html.json
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en
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By AFP
MOSCOW: A rights group and backers of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny accused Moscow police Wednesday of visiting his rank-and-file supporters at their homes overnight after their personal information was revealed in a leaked database.
Navalny's organisations and websites have been hit with at least one major leak in recent months, with local media reporting Tuesday that the names, email addresses and places of work of supporters had begun appearing on the Telegram messenger and the Russian darknet.
On Wednesday, the independent monitor OVD-Info reported that police in Moscow had visited "at least 20" people overnight who had registered their names on Navalny's websites or sent donations to his groups.
The monitor said police "demanded explanations about the donations" and why their names were in the database. It added that one person said police asked him to write a report against Navalny over "the illegal transfer of personal data".
Journalist and activist Ilya Azar said on Facebook that his home was one of those police had visited, while key Navalny aide Leonid Volkov said that police had gone to "several dozen" people in "an act of terrorism".
Police barged in "at night, at the same time, with threats to bang down doors, so that hundreds of thousands of our supporters in Moscow feel as uncomfortable as possible", he wrote on Telegram.
The interior ministry did not immediately respond to AFP requests for comment.
In April, Navalny's key aide Ivan Zhdanov confirmed that a database containing supporters' information had been leaked and the next month blamed it on a former ally, who denied the claim.
Navalny was sent to jail in February after returning to Russia from Germany following a near-fatal poisoning attack that he blames on the Kremlin.
The organisations of President Vladimir Putin's most vocal domestic critic have since been banned in Russia and all of his key allies have either fled the country or are under house arrest.
But Navalny's aides are still calling for supporters to join his Smart Voting strategy, which aims to vote out candidates from the ruling United Russia party, in a parliamentary vote in September.
Last week investigators charged Navalny with a new crime that could prolong his time behind bars by up to three years.
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Navalny supporters accuse Russian police of visits after leak
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2021/aug/18/navalny-supporters-accuse-russian-police-of-visits-after-leak-2346454.html
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2021-08-20 01:48:27+00:00
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2021-08-18 00:00:00
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analysts say that despite ideological differences with the Taliban, IS will also profit from the collapse of the Afghan state and find Taliban-controlled Afghanistan fertile ground for its operations.
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By AFP
PARIS: The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan following two decades of US occupation risks emboldening jihadists worldwide, even if the group may already have a tense relationship with the Islamic State extremist group, analysts said.
The rapid ousting of the Western-backed Afghan government by the Taliban, who lost control of Afghanistan in the US-led invasion two decades ago, will provide jihadists with an example of how patience and careful strategy can pay off even after the defeat of IS in Syria and Iraq.
It is also especially symbolic coming just ahead of the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States carried out by Al-Qaeda under Osama bin Laden and planned from Taliban-ruled Afghanistan where he had taken refuge.
"The Taliban's victory will give jihadist groups worldwide a major boost. It makes them believe that they can expel foreign powers, even major military powers like the United States," Colin Clarke, director of research at the New York-based Soufan Centre think tank, told AFP.
"I expect to see a major propaganda blitz culminating on the 20-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. This will improve morale for jihadis from North Africa to Southeast Asia," he added.
Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, a fellow at George Washington University's Program on Extremism, said that the example of the Taliban's patience would convince jihadists around the world to keep fighting, despite the existing hostility between the Afghan fundamentalists and IS.
"The Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan is something that actually emboldens jihadists everywhere although the IS is not necessarily happy about it."
"When groups see the Taliban celebrating victory, I think it convinces them that if they just keep fighting, eventually those they are fighting will collapse, whether it's in Somalia or West Africa.
"Eventually they just hope the powers backing these governments they fight will withdraw."
- 'Galvanises ISKP' -
Al-Qaeda's propaganda arm Al-Thabat has already welcomed the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, saying that "Muslims and Mujahideen in Pakistan, Kashmir, Yemen, Syria, Gaza, Somalia, and Mali are celebrating the liberation of Afghanistan and the implementation of Sharia within it."
The relationship between the Taliban and IS has always been more tricky and the IS branch in Afghanistan and Central Asia -- the Islamic State - Khorosan Province (ISKP) -- was set up by Taliban defectors.
But analysts say that despite ideological differences with the Taliban, IS will also profit from the collapse of the Afghan state and find Taliban-controlled Afghanistan fertile ground for its operations.
"Dr. Q", a Western expert on IS who who publishes the results of research under a pseudonym on Twitter, counted 216 ISKP attacks between January 1 and August 11, compared with 34 in the same period last year.
"This makes Afghanistan one of the most dynamic IS provinces," he told AFP. "Everything is not directly linked to the American withdrawal, but the victory of the Taliban also galvanises the ISKP."
He said that, beyond fratricidal hatreds, there was a convergence of objectives between IS and the Taliban.
"IS regularly states that Westerners cannot stay forever" in the region. In this regard, the triumph of the Taliban "legitimises their way of doing things".
And the chaos that could ensue in the months and years following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan risks providing a breeding ground for all jihadist groups, who thrive on instability.
"The collapse of the Afghan army is eerily reminiscent of what we saw in Iraq in 2011," when jihadists began an insurgency that would eventually see the capture of cities like Mosul, said Clarke.
"I'm worried the same situation will unfold here in Afghanistan, with the rise of both ISIS and the resuscitation of Al-Qaeda," he said, using another acronym for the Islamic State group.
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Taliban takeover risks emboldening jihadists worldwide: analysts
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2021-08-20 01:46:22+00:00
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2021-06-30 00:00:00
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The launch came as India assumed the Presidency of the 15-nation UN Security Council for the month of August.
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By PTI
UNITED NATIONS: India in collaboration with the UN on Wednesday launched UNITE AWARE - a technology platform for peacekeeping missions aimed at providing terrain-related information to peacekeepers.
The launch came as India assumed the Presidency of the 15-nation UN Security Council for the month of August.
The project was launched in the presence of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar here at the UN headquarters.
Jaishankar arrived in New York on Monday as the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on the situation in Afghanistan, the second time in just over 10 days that the powerful UN body met under India's Presidency for the month of August to discuss the rapidly deteriorating and unravelling situation in the war-torn country.
"UNITE AWARE' is a situational awareness software programme that allows a Peacekeeping Operations Centre to visualise and analyse the ground situation in a conflict zone on a real-time basis.
It will help in increasing situational awareness and provide terrain-related information to peacekeepers.
India has contributed USD 1.64 million towards the project.
India has developed it in partnership with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Operational Support.
This project aims to demonstrate the impact of modern surveillance technology on the detection of asymmetric threats.
The aim of the project is to improve camp security for UN peacekeepers, the overall security situation, and the quality of situational awareness, the Ministry of Affairs said in New Delhi earlier.
India has partnered with the UN to roll out the UNITE Aware platform initially in four UN Peacekeeping Missions: MINUSMA (Mali), UNMISS (South Sudan), UNFICYP (Cyprus) and AMISOM (Somalia).
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India in collaboration with UN launches tech platform for peacekeepers
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2021-08-20 01:52:01+00:00
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2021-08-19 00:00:00
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Advocate Raviteja Padiri said the Indian government has introduced a new category of electronic visa, ‘e-Emergency X-Misc Visa’, with an aim to fast-track visa applications for entry into India.
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By Express News Service
VIJAYAWADA: Raviteja Padiri, a Vijayawada advocate, is reaching out to Afghans who require legal aid to seek asylum in India after Afghanistan’s swift takeover by Taliban. In his message to Afghans through social media, he wrote: “I am writing to offer voluntary support in the form of legal services to those who would like to raise a claim for refugee status in India.”
Raviteja told TNIE that the Indian government has introduced a new category of electronic visa, called ‘e-Emergency X-Misc Visa’, with an aim to fast-track visa applications for entry into India. “It is valid for six months and during that time they could seek asylum through a UNHCR special officer deployed with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. It needs a certain documentation process, for which we are offering our legal services,” he explained.
He said there are groups that face threat from Taliban. “They need to document how they are threatened and in which way they are considered a threat by Taliban.” He already has 3-4 people who approached him for help for asylum. Asked if any Afghan students in the country had approached them, Raviteja replied in negative.
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Vijayawada advocate offers legal help to Afghans seeking asylum
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/vijayawada/2021/aug/19/vijayawada-advocate-offers-legal-help-to-afghans-seeking-asylum-2346825.html
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2021-08-20 01:45:55+00:00
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2021-08-18 00:00:00
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Gorbachev, 90, has spoken about the coup with bitterness, describing it as the fatal blow to the Soviet Union.
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By Associated Press
MOSCOW: The world held its breath 30 years ago when a group of top Communist officials ousted Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and flooded Moscow with tanks.
But instead of bringing a rollback of liberal reforms and a return to Cold War confrontations, the August 1991 coup collapsed in just three days and precipitated the breakup of the Soviet Union a few months later, an event the plotters claimed they were trying to prevent.
The putsch began when several of Gorbachev's top lieutenants arrived at his Black Sea vacation home on Aug. 18 to urge him to impose a nationwide state of emergency. They were trying to stop the signing of a union treaty between Soviet republics set for two days later, which Gorbachev saw as a way to shore up the crumbling Soviet Union.
After he refused to endorse the state of emergency, the coup plotters cut off the Soviet leader's communications and left him isolated at his residence.
The next day — Aug. 19, 1991 — Soviet Union residents woke up to the televised broadcast of the Bolshoi Theater's “Swan Lake” ballet and state TV anchors reading a terse statement declaring that Gorbachev was unfit to govern for health reasons. The statement said the State Committee on the State of Emergency was created to save the country from sliding into “chaos and anarchy.”
At the same time, hundreds of tanks and other armored vehicles rolled into Moscow in a massive show of force.
Thousands of people opposed to the coup quickly gathered around the government building for the Russian Federation, one of 15 Soviet republics, which was led by Boris Yeltsin, who enjoyed broad popularity as the leader of pro-democracy forces. The orchestrators of the coup, meanwhile, were hesitant.
Vladimir Kryuchkov, the KGB chief and top mastermind behind the coup, had the KGB's Alpha commando unit surround Yeltsin's residence near Moscow but never issued an order to detain him, allowing Yeltsin to drive to his headquarters.
“We decided to try to get to the office despite the risks,” Yeltsin's top associate, Gennady Burbulis, said.
Some troops surrounding the Russian government building even joined the protesters. After arriving, Yeltsin climbed atop a tank deployed to block the building and passionately urged people to stand up to the coup.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Burbulis said he tried to discourage Yeltsin from getting on the tank because of the high risk, but Yeltsin dismissed his warning.
"It was in Yeltsin's character to resolutely and unabashedly defend what he considered right," Burbulis said.
Within hours, it became clear the coup was crumbling.
When the coup instigators showed up at a press conference, they were sweating and stuttering. Some couldn't prevent their hands from trembling as they struggled to fend off sharp questions from the media.
Later that evening, state TV showed the nervous, indecisive coup plotters along with a defiant Yeltsin atop a tank — images that could not contrast more.
“They lacked the political will and the willingness to take responsibility for the country,” Viktor Alksnis, a hardline member of the Soviet parliament who backed imposing a state of emergency, said of the coup plotters.
The following day, up to 200,000 people rallied near the Russian government headquarters to defy the coup, building barricades, roaming the streets and ignoring a curfew imposed by the coup leaders.
“There was a lot of excitement, enthusiasm, resolve and a strong belief in our consolidation and eventual victory,” Burbulis said.
Another Yeltsin ally, Andrei Dunayev, quickly ordered about 1,000 police cadets to come to Moscow to protect Yeltsin’s headquarters with weapons. He said that helped discourage the coup plotters from using force.
“They decided there would be too much blood,” he said.
Amid the tensions, a violent clash between troops and protesters in a tunnel less than 1 kilometer (half a mile) from the Russian government building left three protesters dead and others wounded. Protesters, fearing a convoy of armored vehicles was heading to storm the Russian building, blocked the street with buses.
Speaking to the AP in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, Gennady Veretilny said he was wounded as he tried to save Dmitry Komar, a protester killed when he got stuck in one of the armored vehicles.
“The armored vehicles were ramming the electric buses, trying to shove them away,” Veretilny recalled, adding that he saw a man hanging from the rear hatch of an armored vehicle. “I ran up to him, reached my hands (to pull him out), and then a gunshot rang from over there and I felt burning and pain.”
Hours after the clash, Soviet Defense Minister Dmitry Yazov ordered troops to pull back from Moscow. Later on Aug. 21, some of the coup organizers flew to Gorbachev's Black Sea residence to try to negotiate, but he refused to meet with them.
The coup plotters were arrested and Gorbachev flew back to Moscow on Aug. 22 only to see his power dwindle and Yeltsin calling the shots.
“He was kept prisoner for three days by the organizers of the coup, but when he was freed and had the possibility to return to Moscow, he was already the hostage of Yeltsin, because he owed to him his liberation," said Andrei Grachev, who served as Gorbachev's spokesman in 1991. “Yeltsin became the No. 1 political actor on the Soviet scene.”
Less than four months later, Yeltsin and leaders of other Soviet republics declared the Soviet Union defunct, and Gorbachev stepped down on Dec. 25, 1991. The arrested coup plotters faced trial but received amnesty in 1994.
Grachev argued that Gorbachev underestimated the danger that his hard-line lieutenants posed to his rule.
“He considered them to be too mediocre, incapable of organizing anything serious or challenging him,” Grachev said.
Gorbachev, 90, has spoken about the coup with bitterness, describing it as the fatal blow to the Soviet Union.
“Those three days of imprisonment were the hardest test in my life,” he wrote in his memoir.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Gorbachev said the coup organizers “bear a large share of responsibility for the country's breakup.”
Burbulis, meanwhile, lamented his country's failure to get rid of its authoritarian past.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has described the Soviet collapse as the “greatest political catastrophe of the 20th century,” has been accused by critics of steadily rolling back post-Soviet freedoms during his two decades in power.
In the last few months, Russian authorities have intensified a crackdown on opposition activists and independent media ahead of the country's Sept. 19 parliamentary election, which is widely seen as a key part of Putin's efforts to cement his rule for years to come.
“Thirty years later, we are still stuck in the post-imperial mindset,” Burbulis said. “Power has become the ultimate value for some, along with restrictions of freedoms and controls over civil society, not to mention direct restrictions of freedom of election.”
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Hardline coup set the stage for Soviet collapse 30 years ago
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2021-08-20 01:47:41+00:00
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2021-06-23 00:00:00
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Teik Naing, secretary-general of the AAPP, said most of the people killed were anti-military activists and more than 40 were shot in the head.
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By Associated Press
BANGKOK: More than 1,000 people have been killed by security forces in Myanmar since the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi about six months ago, a human rights group said Wednesday.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which monitors protest-related arrests and deaths in Myanmar, said it confirmed two more deaths on Wednesday, bringing the total to 1,001.
There has been a groundswell of protests against the military-led government since Suu Kyi's ouster. Casualties are also rising among the military and police as armed resistance grows in both urban and rural areas.
Teik Naing, secretary-general of the AAPP, said most of the people killed were anti-military activists and more than 40 were shot in the head.
In addition, a large number died in interrogation centers and prisons after being arrested, Teik Naing said.
The military leadership disputes the AAPP's figures but has not recently released any of its own.
Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the military commander who took power after deposing Suu Kyi in February, said near the end of May that about 300 people had been killed.
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Right's group: 1,001 killed since military took over Myanmar
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2021-08-20 01:48:20+00:00
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2021-08-18 00:00:00
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The Taliban returned to power last weekend after capturing much of the country in a matter of days, less than three weeks before the U.S. plans to complete its troop withdrawal.
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By Associated Press
KABUL: The Taliban have blown up the statue of a Shiite militia leader who fought against them during Afghanistan’s civil war in the 1990s, according to photos circulating on Wednesday, sowing further doubt about their claims to have become more moderate.
The insurgents' every action in their sudden sweep to power is being watched closely. They insist they have changed and won’t impose the same draconian restrictions they did when they last ruled Afghanistan, all but eliminating women’s rights, carrying out public executions and banning television and music.
They also promised not to seek revenge against those who have opposed them.
But many Afghans remain deeply skeptical, and thousands are racing to the airport and borders to flee the country. Many others are hiding inside their homes, fearful after prisons and armories were emptied during the insurgents’ blitz across the country.
On Wednesday, groups of fighters carrying long guns patrolled a well-to-do neighborhood of the capital, Kabul, that is home to many embassies as well as mansions of the Afghan elite. The Taliban have promised to maintain security, but many Afghans are as afraid of them as they are of potential chaos.
In a rare, early show of dissent, dozens of people gathered in the eastern city of Jalalabad and raised the Afghan national flag in an anti-Taliban demonstration, according to Salim Ahmad, a local resident. He said the Taliban fired in the air to disperse the crowd. There were no immediate reports of any casualties.
The insurgents have raised their own flag — a white banner with Islamic inscriptions — in the territories they have seized.
As Afghans and the international community look to see if the Taliban will make good on their promises, photos circulated on social media of the destroyed statue. It depicted Abdul Ali Mazari, a militia leader killed by the Taliban in 1996, when the Islamic militants seized power from rival warlords. Mazari was a champion of Afghanistan's ethnic Hazara minority, Shiites who were persecuted under the Sunni Taliban's earlier rule.
The statue stood in the central Bamyan province, where the Taliban infamously blew up two massive 1,500-year-old statues of Buddha carved into a mountain in 2001, shortly before the U.S.-led invasion that drove them from power. The Taliban claimed the Buddhas violated Islam's prohibition on idolatry.
Another Taliban promise being closely watched is their vow to prevent Afghanistan from again being used as a base for planning terrorist attacks. That was enshrined in a 2020 peace deal with the Trump administration that paved the way for the drawdown of American troops, the last of whom are supposed to leave at the end of the month.
When the Taliban were last in power they sheltered Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida while they planned the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. U.S. officials fear al-Qaida and other groups could reconstitute themselves in Afghanistan now that the Taliban are back in power.
The Taliban have pledged to form an “inclusive, Islamic government” and have been holding talks with former President Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, a senior official in the ousted government. Mohammad Yusof Saha, a spokesman for Karzai, said preliminary meetings with Taliban officials would facilitate eventual negotiations with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the top Taliban political leader.
Photos circulating online Wednesday showed Karzai and Abdullah meeting with Anas Haqqani, a senior leader in a powerful Taliban faction. The U.S. branded the Haqqani network a terrorist group in 2012, and its involvement in a future government could trigger international sanctions.
Amid the uncertainty, thousands of Afghans have tried to flee the country in recent days, and the U.S. and its allies have struggled to manage a chaotic withdrawal from the country. The Taliban took over the civilian side of the Kabul international airport on Tuesday and have used force to try to control the crowds.
Hundreds of people were outside the airport early Wednesday. The Taliban demanded to see documents before allowing the rare passenger inside. Many of the people outside did not appear to have passports, and each time the gate opened even an inch, dozens tried to push through. The Taliban fired occasional warning shots to disperse them.
The U.S. Embassy has meanwhile relocated to the military side of the airport, where it is coordinating the airlift of diplomats, foreigners and Afghans who worked with the Americans and now fear reprisal.
The British government said it will welcome up to 5,000 Afghan refugees this year, and a total of 20,000 Afghans will be offered a way to settle in the U.K. in the coming years.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to all those who have worked with us to make Afghanistan a better place over the last 20 years," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said late Tuesday.
The head of Afghanistan’s Central Bank meanwhile said the country's supply of physical U.S. dollars is “close to zero." Afghanistan has some $9 billion in reserves, Ajmal Ahmady tweeted, but most is held outside the country, with some $7 billion held in U.S. Federal Reserve bonds, assets and gold.
Ahmady said the country did not receive a planned cash shipment amid the Taliban offensive.
“The next shipment never arrived,” he wrote. “Seems like our partners had good intelligence as to what was going to happen.”
He said the lack of U.S. dollars will likely lead to a depreciation of the local currency, the afghani, hurting the country's poor. Afghans have been lining up outside ATM machines for days, with many pulling out their life savings.
Ahmady said the Taliban will struggle to access the country's reserves because of international sanctions.
The “Taliban won militarily — but now have to govern,” he wrote. “It is not easy.”
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Taliban destroy statue of Shiite foe from 1990s civil war
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2021-08-20 01:47:08+00:00
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2021-08-18 00:00:00
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The announcement Wednesday came a day after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern imposed a strict lockdown after the first case was reported.
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By PTI
WELLINGTON: New Zealand's first coronavirus outbreak in six months has grown to seven people.
The announcement Wednesday came a day after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern imposed a strict lockdown after the first case was reported.
The lockdown is for at least three days for the country and at least a week for the cities of Auckland and Coromandel.
Ardern said Wednesday the government expects the number of cases to keep growing, especially after some of those infected spent time at a church, a school, a casino and a hospital.
She announced a new mandate compelling people to wear masks in supermarkets, gas stations and pharmacies during strict lockdowns.
Ardern says genome testing has confirmed the outbreak is of the delta variant and originated from an outbreak in Sydney, Australia, although it's not yet clear how the virus breached New Zealand's border quarantine controls.
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New Zealand orders mask use as new cases found
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2021/aug/18/new-zealand-orders-mask-use-as-new-cases-found-2346395.html
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2021-08-20 01:49:53+00:00
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2021-08-18 00:00:00
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More than 7,000 people evacuated from homes and campgrounds have slept in temporary shelters, according to the prefecture.
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By Associated Press
BORMES-LES-MIMOSAS: A wildfire near the French Riviera has killed one person and remained out of control as it raged through forests Wednesday, according to local authorities.
A neighbor found the “burned” body of the fire victim, whose home near the town of Grimaud was destroyed by the fire, the prosecutor in Draguignan commune said in a statement. An investigation has been opened to formally identify the person and determine the causes of death.
French newspaper Var-Matin identified the victim as a man.
At least 27 people, including five firefighters, have suffered smoke inhalation or minor injuries from the blaze, the prefecture of the Var region said in a statement.
More than 7,000 people evacuated from homes and campgrounds have slept in temporary shelters, according to the prefecture.
Over 1,100 firefighters, water-dumping planes and helicopters were being deployed Wednesday to battle the fire, which started Monday evening about 40 kilometers (24 miles) inland from the coastal resort of Saint-Tropez.
Fueled by powerful seasonal winds coming off the Mediterranean Sea, the fire had encompassed 7,000 hectares (17,300 acres) of forest by Wednesday morning, the prefecture said.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who has been vacationing in a nearby coastal fortress, visited the fire zone on Tuesday. He praised firefighters for being able to “stabilize” the blaze.
Local authorities closed roads, blocked access to forests and urged caution. Officials warned that the fire risk would remain very high through Wednesday because of hot, dry weather. Temperatures have reached 40 degrees Celsius (104 F) in recent days.
Wildfires have swept across the Mediterranean region in recent weeks, leaving areas in Greece, Turkey, Italy, Algeria and Spain in smoldering ruins.
While the area is known for its sunny, hot summers, scientists voice little doubt that climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is driving extreme events such as heat waves, droughts and wildfires. Such hardships are likely to happen more frequently as Earth continues to warm, they say.
In Greece, a major wildfire northwest of Athens, the capital, decimated large tracts of pine forest for a third day on Wednesday.
While the Mediterranean is known for its sunny, hot summers, scientists voice little doubt that climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is driving extreme events such as heat waves, droughts and wildfires. Such hardships are likely to happen more frequently as Earth continues to warm, they say.
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Wildfire raging near French Riviera kills one, injures 27
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2021-08-20 01:48:00+00:00
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2021-08-18 00:00:00
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The one-dose J&J vaccines were exported from South Africa, where they are assembled, despite the pressing need for vaccines across Africa, where less than 3% of the population is fully vaccinated.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindianexpress.com%2Fworld%2F2021%2Faug%2F18%2Fsouth-african-activists-slam-jj-for-exporting-vaccines-2346405.html.json
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By Associated Press
JOHANNESBURG: Health activists in Africa have slammed Johnson & Johnson for exporting vaccines produced in South Africa to countries in Europe, which have already immunized large numbers of their people and have even donated vaccines to more needy countries.
The one-dose J&J vaccines were exported from South Africa, where they had been assembled, despite the pressing need for vaccines across Africa, where less than 3% of the continent's 1.3 billion people have been fully vaccinated.
The South African activists on Tuesday called for a full disclosure of the South African government’s contracts with Johnson & Johnson and other vaccine manufacturers and threatened legal action to get the information. At a press briefing on Tuesday, they reacted to revelations by The New York Times that millions of J&J doses produced by Aspen Pharmacare in the South African city of Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) are being exported to Europe.
The report also claims the South African government agreed to waive its right to ban exports to make sure that Johnson & Johnson could ship the vaccines abroad.
Aspen, a South African drug manufacturer, has a contract with Johnson & Johnson to assemble the ingredients of its COVID-19 vaccine, put it in vials and package it, a process called “fill and finish.” It was the first agreement for COVID-19 vaccines to be finished in Africa and was hailed by the African Union and the South African government as a boost for vaccine production and distribution in the continent.
The Aspen factory has the capacity to finish about 220 million J&J doses annually.
“We believe that the conduct of Johnson & Johnson has been scandalous, immoral and unconstitutional,” Fatima Hassan of the Health Justice Initiative, an advocacy group in South Africa, said Tuesday.
The organization has already filed a request under South Africa’s Promotion of Access to Information Act to get access to the contracts, she said.
South Africa has vaccinated more than 2.1 million people with the J&J vaccine and has purchased 31 million doses of the vaccine, which are being delivered in large shipments from overseas and from the South African manufacturing plant. The rollout of the J&J vaccines has been delayed by delivery disruptions.
In addition to the J&J vaccines, South Africa is using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. About 7% of South Africans are fully vaccinated and an additional 9% have received one dose. Overall South Africa has given at least one vaccination does to more than 9.7 million people and is currently administering about 200,000 shots per day.
Moses Muluba, from the Center for Health, Human Rights and Development in Uganda, said the distribution of vaccines produced in Africa to Europe shows glaring global inequity in the distribution of vaccines.
“In a country like Uganda where we have 44 million people, we have not even reached a target of 4 million vaccinations. Only 1.7 million have been vaccinated, but we cannot find vaccines in the market," he said.
The vast majority of the world's COVID-19 vaccine supply has already been bought up by rich countries including the U.S., Canada and the European Union. While many of those countries have pledged to donate millions of vaccines to African countries, most of them won't be delivered this year. And many are now planning booster shots for their own people.
“In this case, what does global solidarity mean? Vaccines made in South Africa were supposed to boost distribution to countries like ours, but that has not happened,” Muluba said.
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South African activists slam J&J for exporting vaccines
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2021-08-20 01:49:20+00:00
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But with the collapse of the Afghan government, the couple is desperately trying to get the boy, Noman, on a flight out of Kabul -- going anywhere -- before the chance to leave disappears.
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By Associated Press
WASHINGTON: After five frustrating years mired in bureaucratic delays, Bahaudin Mujtaba and wife Lisa had hoped to finally bring the 10-year-old Afghan boy they're adopting to their home in Florida this year for a chance at a different future.
But with the collapse of the Afghan government, the couple is desperately trying to get the boy, Noman, on a flight out of Kabul -- going anywhere -- before the chance to leave disappears.
In the chaos following the Taliban takeover, Noman and another family tried to get to the airport Tuesday through clogged streets, checkpoints and gunfire but were forced to turn back.
Mujtaba, who spoke to the boy and the family early Tuesday, said they hope to try again to get to the airport Wednesday.
"I have tears in my eyes this morning and my wife has tears in her eyes," he said.
"I couldn't really say much else other than 'Go for it' and 'Be careful'."
The Taliban's dramatic takeover of Afghanistan has reverberated worldwide, and for families like the Mujtabas, the fallout has been swift, deeply personal and potentially life-altering.
Knowing the militant group is almost certain not to uphold the adoption agreements from the collapsed Afghan government, the American couple's best hope is to get the boy out, fast.
"Once they get to the airport, it's just a matter of waiting time. But it's a matter of waiting a few hours or a few days," Bahaudin Mujtaba said.
Noman is currently in the custody of another family trying to leave.
Maybe they can get the boy to a nearby country.
Maybe Pakistan.
Wherever they go, he's willing to fly there and meet him.
"But the first goal is to get him out of Afghanistan safely," Mujtaba said.
It's unclear how many among the throngs of people trying to flee Afghanistan include potential adoptive children.
One other U.S. family, based in Indiana, is working with the same adoption agency as Mujtaba and is trying to get a 2-year-old boy out of the country.
Mary King, executive director of Frank Adoption Center in Wake Forest, North Carolina, is working with the families and said they had full permission from Afghan courts to bring the children to the U.S. and finalize the adoptions.
They were awaiting U.S. visas, but everything changed in the past few days.
"This all came about much faster than any of us anticipated, so we don't know," she said.
"We have put them on every list. We've filled out every form we've been told about. Their names are everywhere we can get them, as far as with the appropriate U.S. authorities. And so now we are waiting to hear what may happen next."
U.S. adoptions from Afghanistan are relatively rare compared with adoptions from other countries, according to State Department data.
From 1999 through 2019, 41 Afghan children were adopted by U.S. families.
That's far fewer than other countries in the region, including 148 children from Iran and 667 from Pakistan.
Other countries, like China, Ukraine and Colombia, have seen thousands of children adopted by U.S. families over the past two decades.
The process in Afghanistan required working through the Afghan Family Court, which limited the guardianship process to Muslim parents.
Families that receive permission from the court can then bring a child to the U.S. to finalise an adoption, according to the State Department.
But under Taliban rule, it's all but certain not to be permitted now, Mujtaba said, especially from a family based in the U.S. Mujtaba and his adoption agency have reached out to Florida Sen.
Marco Rubio's office for help.
Mujtaba has even offered to go to Afghanistan with the U.S. military, offering his familiarity with the language and culture in return for a chance to bring the boy home.
Rubio's office confirmed it is working with Mujtaba and the adoption agency but did not offer more details about what options the senator's staff was pursuing.
Mujtaba and his wife agreed to adopt Noman, a distant relative, after Mujtaba met him during a visit to Kabul five years ago.
"I just basically fell in love with this little boy. And based on hearing everything, then we knew we had the means and the motivation to help him," he said.
The child's mother died of cancer, leaving the boy with his adult brothers and elderly father who is unable to care for him.
Mujtaba described Noman as "a little boy who has big dreams."
He loves music, gets top grades in school and wants to become an engineer or a doctor -- a profession Mujtaba said the boy may be drawn to because he's had to meet with so many doctors.
Noman appears to have diabetes and other medical issues, possibly stemming from nutrition problems, but Mujtaba said it's not totally clear if the doctors in Afghanistan gave him the right diagnosis or the treatments.
"That's the environment, unfortunately, that you're in, in Afghanistan," he said.
"We're not really sure exactly what the problems might be, once we get here. He's fine for a period of time and then, unfortunately, he's not."
Mujtaba is an U.S. citizen who emigrated from Afghanistan 40 years ago.
After the Taliban was displaced two decades ago, he returned in 2005 to the country of his birth for the first time in 20 years.
He's visited Noman 10 times over the past years, staying three to five weeks at a time.
His wife, who is American, has never been to Afghanistan or met the boy in person because it seemed too dangerous to bring her, Mujtaba said.
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US families mid-adoption trying to get Afghan children out
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2021-08-20 01:45:09+00:00
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2021-08-18 00:00:00
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The two leaders discussed the need for continued close coordination among allies and democratic partners on Afghanistan policy going forward.
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By PTI
WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson have agreed to hold a virtual meeting of G-7 countries next week on the fast-unfolding developments in Afghanistan.
Biden and Johnson spoke over phone regarding the developments in Afghanistan, the White House said on Tuesday, adding that the two leaders commended the bravery and professionalism of their military and civilian personnel, who are working together in Kabul on the evacuation of their citizens and Afghan nationals who assisted in the war effort.
They also discussed the need for continued close coordination among allies and democratic partners on Afghanistan policy going forward, including ways the global community can provide further humanitarian assistance and support for refugees and other vulnerable Afghans, the White House said in a readout of the phone call.
They agreed to hold a virtual G7 leaders' meeting next week to discuss a common strategy and approach (to the Afghan situation), it said.
G7 is an inter-governmental political forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken continued with his global outreach on the issue of Afghanistan.
Just today he spoke with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, thanking them for assistance in facilitating the transit of US citizens and Embassy Kabul personnel through Doha and Kuwait City, State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at his daily news conference.
He has also continued to be in close and regular contact with the President and the broader national security and foreign policy team, Price said.
Taliban insurgents seized Kabul on Sunday after a sudden and unprecedented collapse of the US-backed Ashraf Ghani government, prompting the embattled president to flee the country.
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Biden, Johnson to hold virtual G7 leaders meeting next week on Afghan situation
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2021-08-20 01:44:30+00:00
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Meanwhile, the first military cargo plane sent by Spain to Kabul has left the airport, but Spain's defense ministry is not yet giving any more details on how many people are on board or who they are.
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By Associated Press
ANKARA: Turkey's defence minister says at least 62 evacuation flights were made from Kabul's international airport in the past two days, after security was restored at the airfield.
Hulusi Akar told state-run Anadolu Agency on Wednesday that Turkish troops and other NATO soldiers were involved in the effort to restore calm.
Turkish air force planes were meanwhile, evacuating Turkish citizens from Afghanistan, he said.
Akar also said Turkey was engaged in talks with the United States, other NATO allies as well as other nations over Ankara's proposal for Turkish troops to continue protecting and operating the airfield.
"We have stated that we are considering continuing our work if the necessary conditions are met," Akar was quoted as saying.
He did not elaborate.
Meanwhile, the first military cargo plane sent by Spain to Kabul has left the airport, but Spain's defense ministry is not yet giving any more details on how many people are on board or who they are.
The Dutch defense ministry says that a C-17 military transport plane has flown out of Kabul carrying around 35 people with Dutch, Belgian, German and British passports.
The plane is headed for Tbilisi in Georgia.
ALSO WATCH:
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Afghanistan crisis: 62 evacuation flights left Kabul in past two days
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2021-08-20 01:49:33+00:00
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2021-08-18 00:00:00
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Chief Pentagon spokesman said there are now about 4,500 U.S. troops at the airport, with several hundred more expected to arrive by August 19.
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By Associated Press
WASHINGTON: Senior U.S.military officers at the Kabul airport are talking to Taliban commanders in the capital about Taliban checkpoints and curfews that have limited the number of Americans and Afghans able to enter the airport, the Pentagon said Wednesday.
John Kirby, the chief Pentagon spokesman, told reporters that Navy Rear Adm.
Peter Vasely is communicating with Taliban commanders in an effort to further accelerate the pace of the evacuation, which faces an August 31 deadline set by President Joe Biden, even as thousands of American citizens and others scramble to get out of the country.
Kirby said that over the past 24 hours about 2,000 people, including 325 American citizens, have been flown out of the Kabul international airport on 18 flights by U.S. Air Force C-17 transport planes.
ALSO READ | Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar's rise charts Taliban's long road back to power
The number of departing Air Force flights is likely to be similar in the coming 24 hours, Kirby said, although he said he could not estimate how many people they would carry.
"Military flights are arriving and departing consistently and there is limited commercial flight operations, as well as some foreign contracted flights that are coming and going," Kirby said.
The spokesman said the Biden administration is considering its options for dealing with a separate but related problem -- the abandonment by Afghan security forces of an array of military equipment, weapons and aircraft that have fallen into the hands of the Taliban or other militant groups around Afghanistan.
"We don't, obviously, want to see our equipment in the hands of those who would act against our interests or the interests of the Afghan people and increase violence and insecurity inside Afghanistan," Kirby said.
"There are numerous policy choices that can be made, up to and including destruction."
He said those decisions have not yet been made.
Kirby said there are now about 4,500 U.S. troops at the airport, with several hundred more expected to arrive by Thursday.
He said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, planned to hold a news conference at the Pentagon on Wednesday afternoon to address the evacuation effort and related issues.
An Air Force unit arrived overnight that specializes in rapidly setting up and maintaining airfield operations, Kirby said.
And he said Marines trained in evacuation support have continued to arrive and will assist in getting civilians onto flights.
Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser. on Tuesday acknowledged reports that some civilians were encountering resistance 'being turned away or pushed back or even beaten' as they tried to reach the Kabul 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 U.S. evacuation effort into chaos, confusion and violence.
The State Department said it was sending John Bass, a former ambassador to Afghanistan, to manage the evacuation operation in Kabul.
The Pentagon Army Maj. Gen. Christopher Donohue, a special operations officer and current commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, has arrived to take command of airport security operations.
Kirby disclosed Tuesday that U. S. officers were speaking with Taliban commanders "multiple times a day" about avoiding conflict at the airport.
Kirby would not discuss details of the Taliban arrangement, and Sullivan said the question of how much time the Taliban will give the evacuation was still being negotiated.
Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U. S. Central Command and overall commander of U. S. troops in Kabul, made an unannounced visit to the Afghan capital Tuesday.
In a written statement, he said he found that military air traffic controllers and ground handlers were 'rapidly scaling up' airlift operations.
ALSO WATCH:
McKenzie on Sunday 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,' McKenzie said.
"The protection of U.S. 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, Sullivan said U.S. 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.
Asked whether the Biden administration recognizes the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan, Sullivan said it was too soon to say and that the Taliban's record of adhering to international human rights standards 'has not been good.'
The goal is to ramp up to one evacuation flight per hour by Wednesday, with 5,000 to 9,000 evacuees leaving per day.
On Monday the airlift was temporarily suspended when Afghans desperate to escape the country breeched security and rushed onto the tarmac.
Seven people died in several incidents.
The Air Force said Tuesday that its Office of Special Investigations is investigating an incident Monday in which a C-17 transport plane taking off from Kabul airport was swarmed by desperate Afghan civilians, some of whom died.
The Air Force said human remains were found in the plane's wheel well when it landed in Qatar.
Kirby said during television interviews that plans were being made to house up to 22,000 evacuated Afghans and their families at three U.S. Army installations in the continental United States.
Those locations are Camp McCoy, Wisconsin; Fort Bliss, Texas, and Fort Lee, Virginia.
Biden returned to the White House Tuesday night from the Camp David presidential retreat.
On Monday, he had rejected blame for chaotic scenes of Afghans clinging to U.S. military planes in Kabul in a desperate bid to flee their home country after the Taliban's easy victory over an Afghan military that America and NATO allies had spent two decades trying to build.
Biden called the anguish of trapped Afghan civilians "gut-wrenching" and conceded the Taliban had achieved a much faster takeover of the country than his administration had expected.
The U.S. rushed in troops to protect its own evacuating diplomats and others at the Kabul airport.
But the president expressed no second thoughts about his decision to stick by the U.S. commitment, formulated during the Trump administration, to end America's longest war, no matter what.
"I stand squarely behind my decision" to finally withdraw U.S. combat forces, Biden said.
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US in talks with Taliban to ease Kabul obstacles: Pentagon
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2021-08-20 01:50:19+00:00
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2021-08-19 00:00:00
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Germany's foreign minister said his country's ambassador in Kabul has begun talks in Doha with Taliban representatives to ensure they allow Afghans to reach the airport.
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By PTI
BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke by phone on Wednesday with US President Joe Biden about the situation in Afghanistan, her office said.
During the call, Merkel stressed the importance of enabling as many Afghans as possible who supported German military and civilian efforts in the country to leave.
The two leaders "agreed to fly out as many people in need of protection as possible," her office said.
Germany's foreign minister said his country's ambassador in Kabul has begun talks in Doha with Taliban representatives to ensure they allow Afghans to reach the airport.
Heiko Maas said Germany has flown more than 500 people out of Afghanistan, including about 200 Afghan citizens, since Sunday "and we want to continue doing so in this quantity in the coming days."
Maas said the assumption is that the window for evacuation flights will be limited "but all those in positions of responsibility on the ground, in particular the United States, are trying to use this time as best as possible."
He added that according to his information there are currently hundreds, if not thousands of people massed outside the gates of the airport, and sporadic outburst of violence.
Maas said Germany is also trying to bring supplies of food to Kabul to provide for those waiting to be evacuated, and has a Medevac plane in the region.
Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said Germany would "do everything to get as many local staff out of Kabul as possible."
Britain's ambassador to Kabul says his team has got "days, not weeks" to speed up the evacuation of British nationals and Afghans who worked with U.K. forces.
Laurie Bristow said his team helped 700 people fly out on military flights on Tuesday, and the goal is to help 1,000 people each day.
"We are trying to scale up the speed and pace over the next couple of days," he told Sky News.
"We're working on the basis of days, not weeks, so we really do have to get those numbers through." Gen. Nick Carter, head of the British armed forces, said he expected seven aircraft to head to Kabul to enable another 1,000 people to leave on Wednesday.
Bristow said the Taliban are supporting the operation and his team is working with them "where we need to, at a tactical, practical level."
"My assessment is that they see it as in their interests to help it to happen in an orderly and clear way," he said.
"Obviously it's in our interests for them to see it that way."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said earlier on Wednesday that authorities had so far secured the safe return of 306 British citizens and 2,052 Afghans, with a further 2,000 Afghan applications completed and many more being processed.
ALSO READ | Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar's rise charts Taliban's long road back to power
Afghanistan is not a safe place to deport migrants to, but the European Union should try to assist displaced people inside the conflict-ravaged country or elsewhere in the region rather than wait until they arrive on Europe's doorstep, the bloc's top migration official said Wednesday.
"It's not possible to send people back to Afghanistan in these days. It's not safe," EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said in a video statement.
But Johansson said that "it's important that we can help these people in Afghanistan, when possible, to return to their homes. We also need to help neighbouring countries and support Afghanis and these neighbouring countries in the region."
Speaking after a videoconference with EU interior ministers, she said that Europe "should not wait until people stand at our external border. We need to help them before that. It's also important that we help those under immediate threat to be resettled to EU member states."
Afghans are among the biggest group of people from a single country applying for international protection in Europe, after Syrians.
According to some EU estimates, around 570,000 Afghans have applied for asylum in Europe since 2015.
Asylum applications by Afghan nationals climbed by a third since February as it became clear that the United States would pull troops out of Afghanistan.
ALSO READ | NATO to hold emergency meeting to discuss situation in Afghanistan
More than 4,648 applications were lodged in May, according to the EU's asylum office.
About half of the applications tend to be successful.
The arrival of well over a million migrants in 2015, mostly from Syria and Iraq, sparked one of the 27-nation EU's biggest crises as nations bickered over how best to manage the influx.
The infighting continues today, and a new wave of migrants from Afghanistan is likely to exacerbate tensions.
Austria's interior minister called Wednesday for "deportation centers" to be built in countries neighbouring Afghanistan.
"It is important to keep up the rule of law and credibility even in a crisis like Afghanistan is experiencing right now. And it should continue to be possible to especially deport violent asylum seekers," Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said.
ALSO READ | India should have publicly engaged with Taliban earlier: Former Foreign Minister Natwar Singh
"It must be our goal to keep the majority of the people in the region."
The U.N.'s refugee agency has called for a moratorium on the forced return of Afghan nationals, including asylum seekers who have had their claims rejected.
Neighboring countries are also likely to be overburdened.
The UNHCR said "it would not be appropriate to forcibly return nationals or former habitual residents of Afghanistan to countries in the region, in view of the fact that countries such as Iran and Pakistan have for decades generously hosted the vast majority of the total global number of Afghan refugees."
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Afghanistan crisis: Germany, UK say window for airlifts limited; EU urged to step in
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2021-08-20 01:48:07+00:00
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The plane flew empty from Sydney to Denpasar, Bali's capital, and took off for Darwin on Wednesday afternoon with 186 people on board, including infants and crew.
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By PTI
DENPASAR: More than a hundred Australian citizens left the Indonesian tourist island of Bali on Wednesday aboard a special repatriation flight organized by the Australian government.
Many Australians have been stranded on Bali because flights connecting Indonesia to Australia have been limited since the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia.
“This Qantas flight is assigned for Australian citizen repatriation which will take it to Darwin,” airport public relations manager Taufan Yudhistira said Wednesday.
The plane flew empty from Sydney to Denpasar, Bali's capital, and took off for Darwin on Wednesday afternoon with 186 people on board, including infants and crew, Yudhistira said.
Ian Young, a passenger, said he will return to Bali after seeing his family in Melbourne.
“I have not been able to see my family," he said. "I'll just see my family and come back to Bali quickly.”
The Australian Consulate General in Bali said the Australian government worked in partnership with Indonesian authorities to arrange the flight for people whose planes have been canceled or whose transit options are no longer available.
It said Australia is continuing to explore ways to support Australians who want to return home.
Indonesia has been hit hard by the coronavirus, fueled by travel during the Eid holiday in May and the spread of the highly contagious delta variant. It has recorded more than 3.8 million cases, including more than 120,000 deaths.
The surge has prompted new lockdown measures since July, particularly on Java, Indonesia’s most populated island, and on Bali.
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Special repatriation flight takes Australians home from Bali
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2021-08-20 01:46:35+00:00
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Jaishankar arrived in New York Monday as the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on the situation in Afghanistan, the second time in just over the 10 days
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By PTI
UNITED NATIONS: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed the situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power in Kabul in his bilateral meetings here, including with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
Jaishankar arrived in New York Monday as the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on the situation in Afghanistan, the second time in just over the 10 days that the powerful UN body met under India's Presidency for the month of August to discuss the unravelling situation in the war-torn country.
Following his meeting with Guterres in the UN headquarters on Tuesday, the minister tweeted, Good to meet UN Secretary General @antonioguterres. Our discussions focused on Afghanistan, following upon the Security Council meeting yesterday.
He also met Estonia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Eva-Maria Liimets and as UNSC members, discussed our working together on maritime and cyber security and other global issues. Exchanged views on the developments in Afghanistan. Look forward to her presence at the Council meeting tomorrow".
Liimets described her meeting with Jaishankar as important and said in a tweet that they talked about the "uncertain" situation in Afghanistan and India's first UNSC Presidency.
Good cooperation between Estonia and India, this year celebrating 30 years of diplomatic relations, she added. Jaishankar will chair two high-level signature events this week under India's current Security Council Presidency.
As India assumed the Presidency of the 15-nation Council for the month of August, it had outlined maritime security, counter-terrorism and peacekeeping as the focus areas.
The minister will chair an open debate Wednesday on technology and peacekeeping under the overarching theme of Protecting the Protectors'.
He will lay a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial in a ceremony along with Guterres.
India and the UN will exchange an MoU in support of partnership for technology in peacekeeping.
Jaishankar will also chair a high-level event on August 19 on counter-terrorism during which the Council will discuss the Secretary General's six-monthly report on the threat posed by ISIL/Da'esh, under the agenda item Threats to International Peace and Security caused by Terrorist Acts'.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had chaired the virtual high-level open debate on maritime security that was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Blinken.
Jaishankar said he also discussed the evolving situation in Afghanistan with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian.
We will continue to coordinate in the UN Security Council. Thank him for evacuating 21 Indian nationals from Kabul to Paris, he said.
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Jaishankar discusses Afghan situation in bilateral meetings with UNSG, counterparts
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2021-08-20 01:49:46+00:00
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2021-08-18 00:00:00
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By Associated Press
GENEVA: The chief scientist of the World Health Organization is warning of 'even more dire situations' worldwide in the coronavirus pandemic if high-income countries start administering vaccine boosters ahead of poorer countries without vaccines.
With the U.S. health officials recommending booster shots for all Americans who have already been vaccinated, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan expressed concern that leaving billions of people in the developing world unvaccinated could foster emergence of new variants, like the delta variant, that is driving new cases in the United States and beyond.
"We believe clearly that the data does not indicate that boosters are needed," Swaminathan said at a news conference in Geneva. She expressed more understanding for a recent U.S. decision to administer boosters to people with weaker immune systems.
ALSO READ | India has administered more than 56.57 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses: Centre
WHO officials have repeatedly expressed concerns that variants will continue to crop up in areas where the virus goes unchecked and called for vaccine equity and "solidarity" among countries.
Dr. Michael Ryan, the WHO's emergencies chief, said: "If we think about this in terms of an analogy, we're planning to hand out extra life jackets to people who already have life jackets, while we're leaving other people to drown without a single life jacket."
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general, says 10 countries have administered 75per cent of all vaccine supply, while low-income countries have vaccinated "barely 2 percent of their people."
He says, "vaccine injustice is a shame on all humanity."
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WHO warns against taking Covid boosters before first vaccines
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2021-08-20 01:47:34+00:00
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2021-08-18 00:00:00
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The video message released Wednesday is aimed at a global audience but directed particularly at the Americas.
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By PTI
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis is adding his voice to a campaign to overcome vaccine skepticism, issuing a public service announcement insisting that vaccines are safe, effective and an act of love.
The video message released Wednesday is aimed at a global audience but directed particularly at the Americas.
It features six cardinals and archbishops from North, Central and South America as well as the Argentine-born pope.
It was produced by the Vatican and the Ad Council, which has produced a series of pro-vaccine ads in a bid to get more people vaccinated.
In his comments, Francis said: Being vaccinated with vaccines authorized by the competent authorities is an act of love. And contributing to ensure the majority of people are vaccinated is an act of love.
He added: Vaccination is a simple but profound way of promoting the common good and caring for each other, especially the most vulnerable.
Francis had emphasized at the start of the pandemic the need to ensure equal access to the vaccine, especially for the poor.
But faced with increasing skepticism about vaccines especially among religious conservatives, the Vatican has vowed an all-out effort to overcome hesitancy and encourage widespread vaccination.
The Vatican has declared that it is morally acceptable for Catholics to receive COVID-19 vaccines, including those based on research that used cells derived from aborted fetuses.
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Pope Francis appears in video promoting vaccination
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2021-08-20 01:47:27+00:00
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2021-08-12 00:00:00
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Khan stressed that safety and security as well as protection of the rights of all Afghans was critically important.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindianexpress.com%2Fworld%2F2021%2Faug%2F18%2Fpakistan-pm-khan-urges-international-community-to-stay-engaged-to-support-afghan-people-economically-2346398.html.json
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By PTI
ISLAMABAD: Asserting that Pakistan is reaching out to all Afghan leaders for a peaceful settlement of the current crisis in the neighbouring nation, Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged the international community to stay engaged, particularly to support the people of the war-ravaged nation economically.
The Prime Minister's Office in a late night statement on Tuesday said Khan received a telephone call from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the two leaders exchanged views on the rapidly evolving situation in Afghanistan.
Pakistan is reaching out to all Afghan leaders, Khan told Merkel and urged that "the international community must also stay engaged, particularly to support the people of Afghanistan economically".
Khan also underscored the immense importance of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan for Pakistan and the region, stressing that safety and security as well as protection of the rights of all Afghans was critically important, the statement said.
Khan underlined that an inclusive political settlement was the best way forward to resolve the Afghan crisis.
He said that Pakistan is facilitating evacuation of diplomatic personnel and staff of international organisations from Afghanistan.
Merkel was the third European leader to call Khan to discuss the Afghan crisis.
Earlier, Khan received telephone calls from his British counterpart Boris Johnson and Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Both the calls focused on the evolving situation in Afghanistan.
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Pakistan PM Khan urges international community to stay engaged to support Afghan people economically
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2021/aug/18/pakistan-pm-khan-urges-international-community-to-stay-engaged-to-support-afghan-people-economically-2346398.html
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2021-08-20 01:44:16+00:00
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2021-08-16 00:00:00
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In the videos, hundreds of young men can be seen throwing the girl in the air for fun, dragging her, tearing her clothes and molesting her.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindianexpress.com%2Fworld%2F2021%2Faug%2F18%2F400-people-booked-for-harassing-molesting-pakistani-youtuber-girl-2346432.html.json
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By PTI
LAHORE: Lahore police have booked 400 people who allegedly harassed and molested a YouTuber girl on Pakistan's Independence Day at the historic Minar-i-Pakistan, officials said.
The police got into action following the videos of her harassment and molestation that went viral on social media with calls to Prime Minister Imran Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar to take action against the culprits.
The incident took place on August 14 when hundreds of youngsters were celebrating Independence Day at Azadi Chowk near Minar-i-Pakistan in Lahore.
In the videos, hundreds of young men can be seen throwing the girl in the air for fun, dragging her, tearing her clothes and molesting her.
They also took off her shalwar (trouser) and molested her.
"After the videos went viral on Tuesday, the police approached the girl on the order of the high-ups and persuaded her to register FIR," a senior police official told PTI.
He said the girl was still traumatised and broke into tears while narrating what had happened to her on Independence Day.
She said in the FIR that she and six other members of her YouTube channel visited Azadi Chowk to record a video clip of the Independence Day celebrations.
"We were shooting the clip when a good number of youngsters started teasing me. They were joined by more and more. Seeing the suspects harassing me, the security guard of the Minar-i-Pakistan Park opened the central gate to let her enter to take shelter. When I crossed the gate and entered the park, the suspects came after me. They tore my clothes and molested me. They dragged and tossed me up in the air for fun. They also beat my team members, and used abusive language," she said and added the humiliation continued for an hour before some people (of them) finally managed to rescue her.
She alleged that during this shameful incident her cell phone, a gold ring and cash worth PKR 150,000 were snatched as well.
The police officer said with the help of video footage the suspects will be arrested soon.
There were reports on social media that the girl was carrying two flags -- a Pakistani and an Indian -- to use them for her TikTok video clip in connection with the Independence Day of both countries.
Someone from the crowd raised an objection to this and afterwards this incident took place.
The police however did not confirm this social media report.
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400 people booked for harassing, molesting Pakistani YouTuber girl
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2021-08-20 01:46:55+00:00
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2021-08-18 00:00:00
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NATO has been leading international security efforts in Afghanistan since 2003 but wound-up combat operations in 2014 to focus on training the national security forces.
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By Associated Press
BRUSSELS: NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says he will chair an emergency meeting of foreign ministers from the 30-nation military alliance on Friday to discuss developments in Afghanistan.
Stoltenberg tweeted on Wednesday that he has convened the videoconference "to continue our close coordination and discuss our common approach on Afghanistan."
On Tuesday, Stoltenberg blamed a failure of Afghan leadership for the swift collapse of the country's Western-backed armed forces, but he conceded that NATO must also address flaws in its military training program.
ALSO READ | Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar's rise charts Taliban's long road back to power
NATO has been leading international security efforts in Afghanistan since 2003 but wound-up combat operations in 2014 to focus on training the national security forces.
NATO helped build up an army some 300,000 strong, but that force withered in the face of the Taliban offensive in just days.
Stoltenberg says that around 800 civilian personnel from NATO countries continue to work in Afghanistan, many in Kabul helping with air traffic control, refueling and communications at the airport.
ALSO WATCH:
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NATO to hold emergency meeting to discuss situation in Afghanistan
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2021-08-20 01:48:33+00:00
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2021-08-18 00:00:00
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The militant group meanwhile met with former officials from the toppled Western-backed government.
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By Associated Press
KABUL: The Taliban violently broke up a protest in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing at least one person as they quashed a rare public show of dissent. The militant group meanwhile met with former officials from the toppled Western-backed government.
The insurgents' every action in their sudden sweep to power is being watched closely. They insist they have changed and won’t impose the same draconian restrictions they did when they last ruled Afghanistan, all but eliminating women’s rights, carrying out public executions and harboring al-Qaida in the years before the 9/11 attacks.
But many Afghans remain deeply skeptical, and the violent response to Wednesday's protest could only fuel their fears. Thousands are racing to the airport and borders to flee the country. Many others are hiding inside their homes, fearful after prisons and armories were emptied during the insurgents’ blitz across the country.
Dozens of people gathered in the eastern city of Jalalabad to raise the national flag a day before Afghanistan's Independence Day, which commemorates the end of British rule in 1919. They lowered the Taliban flag — a white banner with an Islamic inscription — that the militants have raised in the areas they captured.
Video footage later showed the Taliban firing into the air and attacking people with batons to disperse the crowd. Babrak Amirzada, a reporter for a local news agency, said he and a TV cameraman from another agency were beaten by the Taliban as they tried to cover the unrest.
A local health official said at least one person was killed and six wounded. The official was not authorized to speak to media and so spoke on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, videos from the Panjshir Valley north of Kabul, a stronghold of the Northern Alliance militias that allied with the U.S. against the Taliban in 2001, appear to show potential opposition figures gathering there. It's in the only province that hasn't yet fallen to the Taliban.
ALSO READ | Afghanistan's former President Hamid Karzai meets senior Taliban faction leader
Those figures include members of the deposed government — Vice President Amrullah Saleh, who asserted on Twitter that he is the country’s rightful president and Defense Minister Gen. Bismillah Mohammadi — as well as Ahmad Massoud, the son of the slain Northern Alliance leader Ahmad Shah Massoud. It's unclear if they intend to challenge to the Taliban, who seized most of the country in a matter of days last week.
The Taliban, meanwhile, pressed ahead with their efforts to form an “inclusive, Islamic government.” They have been holding talks with former President Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, a senior official in the ousted government. Mohammad Yusof Saha, a spokesman for Karzai, said preliminary meetings with Taliban officials would facilitate eventual negotiations with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the top Taliban political leader, who returned to the country this week.
Karzai and Abdullah met Wednesday with Anas Haqqani, a senior leader in a powerful Taliban faction. The U.S. branded the Haqqani network a terrorist group in 2012, and its involvement in a future government could trigger international sanctions.
Amid the uncertainty, thousands of Afghans have tried to flee the country in recent days, and the U.S. and its allies have struggled to manage a chaotic withdrawal from the country.
Hundreds of people were outside the airport early Wednesday. The Taliban demanded to see documents before allowing the rare passenger inside. Many of the people outside did not appear to have passports, and each time the gate opened even an inch, dozens tried to push through. The Taliban fired occasional warning shots to disperse them.
In Kabul, groups of Taliban fighters carrying long guns patrolled a well-to-do neighborhood that is home to many embassies as well as mansions of the Afghan elite.
ALSO READ | How the scramble to leave Afghanistan is unfolding
The Taliban have promised to maintain security, but residents say groups of armed men have been going door to door inquiring about Afghans who worked with the Americans or the deposed government. It’s unclear if the gunmen are Taliban or criminals posing as militants.
Another Taliban promise being closely watched is their vow to prevent Afghanistan from again being used as a base for planning terrorist attacks. That was enshrined in a 2020 peace deal with the Trump administration that paved the way for the drawdown of American troops, the last of whom are supposed to leave at the end of the month.
When the Taliban were last in power they sheltered Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida group, which carried out the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. U.S. officials fear al-Qaida and other groups could reconstitute themselves in Afghanistan now that the Taliban are back in power.
Elsewhere in Afghanistan, the Taliban blew up a statue depicting Abdul Ali Mazari, a militia leader killed by the Taliban in 1996, when the Islamic militants seized power from rival warlords. Mazari was a champion of Afghanistan’s ethnic Hazara minority, Shiites who were persecuted under the Sunni Taliban’s earlier rule. That further raised concerns about whether they would make good on their promises, including not seeking revenge on those who have opposed them.
ALSO READ | Taliban announces 'amnesty', urges women to join government
In a sign of the difficulties any future Afghan government will face, the head of Afghanistan’s Central Bank said the country's supply of physical U.S. dollars is “close to zero." Afghanistan has some $9 billion in reserves, Ajmal Ahmady tweeted, but most is held outside the country, with some $7 billion held in U.S. Federal Reserve bonds, assets and gold.
Ahmady said the country did not receive a planned cash shipment amid the Taliban offensive.
“The next shipment never arrived,” he wrote. “Seems like our partners had good intelligence as to what was going to happen.”
He said the lack of U.S. dollars will likely lead to a depreciation of the local currency, the afghani, hurting the country's poor. Afghans have been lining up outside ATM machines for days, with many pulling out their life savings.
Ahmady said the Taliban will struggle to access the country's reserves because of international sanctions.
The “Taliban won militarily — but now have to govern,” he wrote. “It is not easy.”
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Taliban violently disperse rare protest; one killed, six wounded
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2021-08-20 01:46:08+00:00
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2021-08-18 00:00:00
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The mandatory quarantine period was extended from seven to 14 days for fully vaccinated travellers with a positive antibody test arriving from Australia, now categorized as medium-risk.
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By PTI
HONG KONG: Hong Kong will tighten entry restrictions for travellers arriving from the United States and 15 other countries beginning Friday, extending the quarantine period to 21 days.
Previously, the 15 countries, which also include Malaysia, Thailand, France and the Netherlands, were classified as medium-risk, with travellers able to stay only seven days of quarantine if they were fully vaccinated and tested positive for antibodies prior to leaving for the city.
A resurgence of coronavirus cases in these countries due to the delta variant led them to be recategorised as high high-risk and stricter measures imposed, as the government sought to uphold the local barrier against the importation of COVID-19, it said in a statement.
The changes come after a domestic worker who had returned to Hong Kong from the US earlier this month tested positive for the coronavirus, despite receiving two shots of vaccine and testing positive for antibodies.
The mandatory quarantine period was extended from seven to 14 days for fully vaccinated travellers with a positive antibody test arriving from Australia, now categorized as medium-risk.
Quarantine requirements for New Zealand, which is the only country considered low-risk, remain at seven days for fully-vaccinated passengers.
Hong Kong's zero-COVID strategy has seen authorities impose strict border restrictions and ban flights from extremely high-risk countries, in the hopes that no local community spread would allow it to re-open borders with mainland China.
The city had nearly two months of no cases within the local community, but its streak was broken earlier this month when a 43-year-old construction worker with no travel history was found to have antibodies in his blood despite not being vaccinated -- indicating that he was probably infected some time ago.
Hong Kong has recorded a total of 12,037 coronavirus infections since the pandemic began, with 212 deaths.
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Hong Kong lengthens quarantines for 16 countries
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2021-08-20 01:50:13+00:00
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2021-08-19 00:00:00
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Ambassador Mohammad Zahir Aghbar told a news conference that Ghani 'stole USD 169 million from the state coffers' and called his flight 'a betrayal of the state and the nation.'
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By Associated Press
MOSCOW: Afghanistan's ambassador to Tajikistan has accused Afghan President Ashraf Ghani of stealing USD 169 million from state funds and has called on international police to arrest him.
Ghani fled Afghanistan on Sunday, just as the Taliban approached Kabul, and his whereabouts remained unknown until Wednesday, when the United Arab Emirates said it has accepted him and his family on account of "humanitarian considerations."
ALSO READ | Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar's rise charts Taliban's long road back to power
Ambassador Mohammad Zahir Aghbar told a news conference on Wednesday that Ghani "stole USD 169 million from the state coffers" and called his flight "a betrayal of the state and the nation."
The ambassador did not elaborate or explain his claim further.
Aghbar also promised to file a request to the Interpol to arrest Ghani.
Shahriyor Nazriev, director of the Interpol's National Central Bureau in Tajikistan, told Russia's state news agency RIA Novosti that they haven't received such a request yet.
ALSO WATCH:
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Afghan diplomat claims Ashraf Ghani 'stole' USD 169 million from state funds, urges arrest
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2021/aug/19/afghan-diplomat-claims-ashraf-ghani-stole-usd-169-millionfrom-state-funds-urges-arrest-2346633.html
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2021-08-20 01:46:15+00:00
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2021-08-18 00:00:00
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Thousands of US soldiers are at Kabul's airport, the Pentagon planning to ramp up flights of its huge C-17 transport jets to as many as two dozen a day.
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By AFP
KABUL: With the Taliban largely in control of Afghanistan, foreign nations are scrambling to get their citizens and Afghans who worked with them out of the country.
Here is a round-up of the latest developments:
- US banks on 'safe passage' -
The United States is looking to get thousands of its citizens out of the country before an August 31 deadline, saying the Taliban has guaranteed them safe passage.
So far, the US has taken out roughly 3,200 people on 13 flights but around 11,000 US nationals remain.
Thousands of US soldiers are at Kabul's airport, the Pentagon planning to ramp up flights of its huge C-17 transport jets to as many as two dozen a day.
State Department spokesman Ned Price hinted that the country might keep some diplomatic staff in the country after August 31.
"If it is safe and responsible for us to potentially stay longer, that is something we may be able to look at," Price said.
- Dutch blocked -
The first Dutch evacuation flight reportedly left Kabul without a single Dutch national on board after passengers were blocked by US troops.
"The Americans were guarding the gate. I showed my passport and said I was Dutch," a man told Dutch media outlet NOS.
"After saying three times that I was Dutch, he told me to keep my distance otherwise he would shoot. I decided to leave. I didn't want to risk being shot."
Foreign Minister Sigrid Kaag said the Americans gave the plane 30 minutes on the tarmac before ordering it to leave, and pleaded for the US to "give us more time".
Kaag is reportedly in talks with the Americans to avoid a repeat of the incident.
- French embassy emptied -
Most people who had sought refuge in the French embassy in Kabul have now been taken out of the country, with almost 200 Afghan nationals among those airlifted out overnight on Tuesday.
"Nearly 200 Afghans who worked for France or who are under threat have just been evacuated from Kabul, as well as French and foreign nationals," President Emmanuel Macron said in a tweet, adding that operations would continue.
Those taken out overnight included 25 French nationals and 184 Afghans "from civil society in need of protection".
- European exodus -
Other European nations were scrambling to follow suit.
Italy's defence ministry said seven planes were working around the clock to take out Afghans who had worked with them, the first flight carrying 85 people due to land later in Rome.
The first Spanish plane was on its way to Kabul too, with two more to follow, according to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
Fourteen Norwegians arrived home safely on Wednesday, Greece said a single national had been evacuated, Sweden has now removed all its embassy staff and Austria and Romania have announced similar plans.
However, Ireland said it was having to work with other nations to get 33 citizens out of the country.
"We're relying on the US in particular to secure safe passage through Kabul airport," said foreign minister Simon Coveney.
- India's Taliban escort -
India's final diplomats took a rocky road to the exit -- they eventually asked the Taliban for an armed escort to the airport, taking five hours to make the five-kilometre (three-mile) journey from the embassy.
India had been a staunch ally of the Afghan government, so nerves were jangling among the 150 nationals and diplomats gathered at the now-closed mission.
But as the first of nearly two dozen vehicles drove out of the embassy late on Monday, some of the heavily armed Taliban fighters waved and smiled at the passengers.
One guided them towards the street leading out of the city's green zone and on the main road to the airport. The escort managed to clear crowds from the roads and get the convoy to the airport.
"I'm so happy to be back," Shirin Pathare, an Air India employee flown out of Kabul, told AFP later, stepping off the plane in New Delhi. "India is paradise."
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How the scramble to leave Afghanistan is unfolding
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2021/aug/18/how-the-scramble-to-leave-afghanistan-is-unfolding-2346484.html
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2021-08-20 01:45:03+00:00
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2021-08-16 00:00:00
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The US has already pulled back the majority of its forces and is looking to complete the drawdown by August 31.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newindianexpress.com%2Fworld%2F2021%2Faug%2F18%2Fbiden-does-not-believe-that-the-us-should-be-fighting-and-dying-in-a-war-nsa-sullivan-2346365.html.json
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By PTI
WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden does not believe that the country should be "fighting and dying" in a war for the purpose of sustaining American military boots near Tajikistan or Pakistan or Iran, his National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said, defending the president's decision to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan.
President Biden in April announced that all American troops would be withdrawn from Afghanistan by September 11 this year, thus bringing to end the country's longest war, spanning across two decades.
The US has already pulled back the majority of its forces and is looking to complete the drawdown by August 31.
I would say that the President does not believe that the United States should be fighting and dying in a war for the purpose of sustaining American military boots near Tajikistan or Pakistan or Iran, Sullivan told reporters at a White House news conference on Tuesday.
We would not agree that it is right to ask American soldiers to risk their lives for the purpose of maintaining a presence near Tajikistan, he said in response to a question.
Responding to a question, Sullivan agreed that some of the US weapons have landed in the hands of the Taliban and the Afghan National Security Forces have basically dismantled them.
We don't have a complete picture, obviously, of where every article of defence materials has gone, but certainly a fair amount of it has fallen into the hands of the Taliban.
And obviously, we don't have a sense that they are going to readily hand it over to us at the airport, Sullivan said.
The Afghan Security Forces appear to have, essentially, no longer operate as a coherent entity.
They essentially have given way to Taliban physical security control over the major population centres, he said.
Responding to a question, the national security advisor indicated that the US is in talks with other friends and allies on a global response to the actions against the Taliban.
Standing here today, I am not going to go into the full panoply of things that we can do, but there are obviously issues related to sanctions, to marshalling international condemnation and isolation, and other steps as well, he said.
But the reason I don't want to go into great detail on it is, I want to be able to have our team communicate directly to the Taliban both what the costs and disincentives are for certain types of action and what our expectations are.
That is a conversation that we will intend to have, and I think many other countries, including like-minded allies and partners, will be having that as well, Sullivan said.
The Biden administration, he said, is engaging diplomatically, at the same time, with allies and regional countries and with the United Nations to address the situation in Afghanistan.
We are in contact with the Taliban to ensure the safe passage of people to the airport. We are monitoring for any potential terrorist threats, as I just mentioned, including from ISIS-K. We intend to continue these operations over the coming days before completing our drawdown, he said.
Acknowledging that the images from the past couple of days at the airport have been heartbreaking, he insisted that Biden had to think about the human costs of the alternative path as well, which was to stay in the middle of a civil conflict in Afghanistan.
There are those who argue that with 2,500 forces -- the number of forces in-country when President Biden took office -- we could have sustained a stable, peaceful Afghanistan. That is simply wrong. The previous administration drew down from 15,000 troops to 2,500. And even at 15,000, the Afghan government forces were losing ground, he said.
What has unfolded over the past month has proven decisively that it would have taken a significant American troop presence, multiple times greater than what President Biden was handed, to stop a Taliban onslaught.
And we would have taken casualties.
American men and women would have been fighting and dying once again in Afghanistan, and President Biden was not prepared to send additional forces or ask any American personnel to do that over the period ahead, Sullivan said.
The Taliban on Sunday declared victory after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country and his government collapsed.
The militants' return to rule brings an end to almost 20 years of a US-led coalition's presence in the country.
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Biden does not believe that the US should be 'fighting and dying' in a war: NSA Sullivan
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2021/aug/18/biden-does-not-believe-that-the-us-should-be-fighting-and-dying-in-a-war-nsa-sullivan-2346365.html
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[
"Brian Gioiele",
"Written By"
] |
2021-08-20 01:50:17+00:00
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2021-08-19 19:00:00
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Police are investigating six vehicle burglaries and two thefts in which all vehicles were...
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.darientimes.com%2Fnews%2Farticle%2FMore-unlocked-vehicles-stolen-burglarized-in-16398680.php.json
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DARIEN — Police are investigating six vehicle burglaries and two thefts in which all vehicles were left unlocked — some with keys still inside — over a three-day period earlier this month.
A 2019 Jeep Wrangler was reported stolen from a Chasmars Pond Road home sometime overnight between Aug. 9 and 10. Police said the vehicle had been left unlocked with the keys left inside. Two other unlocked vehicles in the driveway had been entered and rummaged through. A bank card in the stolen vehicle had been used in Stamford on Aug. 10 at 4:53 a.m. On Aug. 10, the vehicle was recovered on Fenway Street in Stamford.
A 2020 Nissan Rogue and 1966 Ford Mustang at Chasmars Pond Road home were entered sometime overnight between Aug. 10 and 11. Police said nothing was reported missing.
Police said a 2017 Audi A3, which had been left unlocked at a Baywater Drive home, was entered sometime overnight between Aug. 10 and 11. Nothing was reported missing, police said.
Four Mayflower Road homes had vehicles burglarized sometime overnight between Aug. 11 and 12.
A Mayflower Road resident reported her 2018 Mazda Cx was burglarized, police said. The vehicle was left unlocked, police said, and a wallet containing bank cards and identification was missing from the vehicle. The victim had checked her bank accounts and discovered fraudulent charges on the accounts for purchases made in East Haven, police said.
An unlocked 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee at a second Mayflower Road home was entered, but police said nothing was reported missing.
At a third Mayflower Road home that night, police said someone entered an unlocked 2017 Honda CRV, but nothing was reported missing.
Police said the fourth vehicle burglary on Mayflower Road that night was of an unlocked 2018 Chevrolet Traver, in which nothing was reported missing.
A car theft also occurred that night on Baywater Drive, police said. The victim told police someone stole the 2019 Audi Q5, which had been left unlocked with the keys left inside. According to police, tracking software on the vehicle showed it to be on George Street in New Haven later that day. The New Haven police were provided with the location and were able to locate the vehicle.
brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com
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www.darientimes.com
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More unlocked vehicles stolen, burglarized in Darien
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https://www.darientimes.com/news/article/More-unlocked-vehicles-stolen-burglarized-in-16398680.php
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"Brian Gioiele",
"Written By"
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2021-08-20 01:50:11+00:00
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2021-08-19 16:00:00
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The boards of selectmen and finance recently approved the deal, which will cost an...
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.darientimes.com%2Fnews%2Farticle%2FDarien-to-buy-flood-ravaged-property-convert-it-16398127.php.json
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DARIEN — The town will be using a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to buy a Crimmins Road property that has been ravaged by flood damage at least nine times over the past four decades.
The boards of selectmen and finance recently approved the deal, which will cost an estimated $669,100 for 27 Crimmins Road, on which sits two structures, both which will be removed and the site returned to its natural state in the near future. The town would spend $167,275 on the purchase, while the remaining $501,825 would be covered by the FEMA grant.
In helping cover the cost, both boards decided to allocate the $39,066 balance in the town’s land acquisition fund be put towards the 25 percent local match under the FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant program.
Spending the funds now requires Representative Town Meeting approval.
The $167,275 balance, town officials said, would be used to cover the closing costs, appraisal, other fees associated with the real estate transaction, and finally the rest of the money necessary to return the property back to dedicated open space.
Emergency Management Director Marc McEwan said town records show the house was built in 1951. He added that the home has flooded nine times since the records for the site were available, since 1979.
In recent years, McEwan said the structure has flooded three times — 2007, 2014 and 2018. McEwan said the home was “inundated with flood waters resulting from the July 9 storm.”
This grant application was started in November 2019, and there were a few grant applications prior to this one, McEwan said.
“The homeowners were originally looking to elevate the home,” McEwan said, “however FEMA and the state were not convinced that the elevation would really mitigate the future losses as the garage would still be located in the flood waters.
“We received positive feedback on the grant to acquire the property and return it to pre-built as-is condition,” McEwan added.
This is the second time the town has been awarded hazard mitigation grants, the most recent from the presidential disaster declaration in 2018 for the tornadoes upstate.
“The first time was after the severe flooding in 2007, and we received two grant awards — one house elevation on Cherry Street and one property acquisition at 33 Cherry St.,” McEwan said. “That property purchase and subsequent house demolition was completed around 2010.”
The property at 27 Crimmins Road is adjacent to the Stony Brook watershed. This area repetitively experiences severe flooding during severe storms. On July 9, the home had water and sewage infiltration on the first floor living area.
Records show this latest flood claim is the ninth for that address. Prior to this July, the claims totaled $329,303, with another loss of between $250,000 to $300,000 being written up for the July storm.
The National Flood Insurance Program defines a severe repetitive loss property as a single-family property (consisting of one to four residences) that is covered under flood insurance by the NFIP, and that has incurred flood-related damage for which four or more flood claims have been paid by the NFIP.
“We were advised by FEMA and the state that the grant application for acquisition was feasible on July 13, and that there were more hurdles in the request to elevate the structure than in the request for acquisition,” McEwan stated.
One of the hurdles was that, while the house could be elevated, it would still have the two-car detached garage below the base flood elevation. Elevation of the house would potentially lessen the impact, but not eliminate future losses. This left only the alternative of utilizing the HMGP to acquire the property, eliminating future losses to this severe repetitive loss property.
McEwan said 27 Crimmins Road, from available town records, appears to be one of the last dozen SRL properties in town.
“We do have another dozen that fit the definition of repetitive loss properties,” McEwan said. “Since the last storm, about half of those SRL and RL properties are now looking to ask the town to submit applications for them for the upcoming grant cycle.”
brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com
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www.darientimes.com
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Darien to buy flood-ravaged property, convert it into open space
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https://www.darientimes.com/news/article/Darien-to-buy-flood-ravaged-property-convert-it-16398127.php
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2021-08-20 02:06:38+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:00:39
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America's leaders should come clean about the debacle in Afghanistan and accept responsibility, or the country will continue to decline.
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https%3A%2F%2Fdailycaller.com%2F2021%2F08%2F19%2Fpatel-americas-leaders-save-declining-country-coming-clean-afghanistan%2F.json
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Republicans are busy bashing President Joe Biden for his tragically botched withdrawal from Afghanistan. They should. He deserves it. The larger truth, though, is that leaders of both parties have botched Afghanistan now for 20 years. When people research why the American people so dramatically lost trust in national institutions and leaders, Afghanistan will be a case study.
America’s involvement in Afghanistan started, of course, after the 9/11 attacks. Afghanistan’s Taliban government had given safe haven to al-Qaida. After 9/11, President George W. Bush, with express authorization from Congress, initiated Operation Enduring Freedom to drive the Taliban from power and destroy al-Qaida and their leader, Osama bin Laden. This was a mission every sane American agreed with. It was an emotional time. The images of the first U.S. Special Operations troops on the ground in Afghanistan mounting a cavalry charge on horseback made us all swell with pride. With the huge exception of allowing bin Laden to sneak away through the mountains to Pakistan, the bulk of the Afghanistan mission was accomplished within two months. We obliterated Taliban forces, drove al-Qaida into hiding, disrupted their operations and killed thousands of terrorists. American soldiers did their jobs. (RELATED: Biden Dismisses Comment About Taliban Being Back In Power On 9/11 Anniversary, Says Not The Same Because Bin Laden Is Dead)
Instead of declaring victory, Bush, and President Barack Obama after him, expanded the Afghanistan mission to nation-building. Specifically, the plan for both was to establish a Western-style democracy in Afghanistan. Their quotes from the time establish this in no uncertain terms. It was a preposterous proposition from the start. Afghanistan is famously known as “the graveyard of empires.” Many before had tried and failed to capture and govern this rough, backward and largely corrupt society, the Soviet Union being just the most recent example. The hubris and naivete in thinking America could fundamentally change a country as complicated as Afghanistan on a dime is stunning. It would be hard to fail harder.
Along the way, as the failures built up in Afghanistan, so did the lies. Upon the U.S. withdrawal, the ultimate truth of how little progress was made over 20 years was laid bare for the world to see. Leaders of both parties had told us that we were having success training the Afghan army. The corporate media, as is their business model, largely parroted the official line.
Anyone who spoke with actual American soldiers involved in the operations would have heard a different story. Our troops doing the work were put in an impossible situation by failed leaders and an ill-defined mission. The Afghan troops were not doing well. Nearly half may not have even existed. There were fake names added to rosters so commanders could pocket extra pay from the U.S. taxpayers. Drug abuse was rampant. Either America’s leaders were so stunningly clueless that they missed these glaringly obvious facts or they were lying through their teeth. Biden confidently, almost arrogantly, predicted that Afghanistan in the hands of what he told us was a competent 300,000-person army and air force would hold out against the smaller and less well-armed Taliban insurgents. In reality, this Afghan force, after 20 years and trillions of dollars in U.S. training, couldn’t even last a few days without direct U.S. support. Were we given a sense of any of this from U.S. leaders or the corporate media beforehand? (RELATED: ‘Absolutely Abominable’: Former Ambassador To Afghanistan Calls Biden’s Claim That Chaos Was Inevitable ‘A Misstatement, To Be Polite’)
The bipartisan Afghanistan failure can either be a wake-up call to America or just one of the last failures along the way for a country in decline. That choice is ours, and we will know the answer soon. The first sign will be whether those responsible are willing to give real answers as to how this happened. How did Biden get this so wrong? His political career is already going to be hurt terribly by this debacle. Maybe he could try a new tactic: confess to the failure and answer all the questions. That would be a refreshing change from our top leaders’ behavior for many years now.
The corporate media will let Biden get away with the usual American leadership response of moving on without answering the many obvious questions raised by our stunning failure. Biden could help heal a broken country and restore a tiny bit of confidence if he came clean. For starters, it would be important to learn how so many Americans were left behind in Afghanistan. Were top American leaders so deluded about Afghan troop capabilities that they were willing to bet the lives of thousands of Americans still in the country on the outcome? Did anyone even consider these Americans? And why would America not prioritize the evacuation of Americans from Afghanistan before foreign citizens? Are American leaders not obligated to help American citizens before those from other places? Finally, how did we leave so many valuable and sensitive weapons in Afghanistan? Was anyone even considering that? Will the public be told precisely which weapons were left to Taliban control? Finally, Bush could restore a lot of confidence nationally if he revisited his past statements on democracy-building in Afghanistan and reconciled those with the 20-year ordeal that transpired in their wake. (RELATED: Here’s How Much Weaponry The Taliban Are Believed To Have Seized From US: REPORT)
Our leading institutions have, for years now, grown used to failing and not having to answer for it. The corporate media does not demand answers from those in leadership. America’s recent slide has been marked by a stunning lack of consequences for those who fail us. From those whose risky investments caused the financial crisis, to those who helped leading pharmaceutical companies promote opioids as they ravaged the American heartland, to those at the very top levels of Hollywood, Washington, academia and Wall Street who turned a blind eye or even provided support as luminaries such as Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein raped young women — nobody has been held responsible. Will this time be any different? If not, America will keep declining.
Neil Patel co-founded The Daily Caller, one of America’s fastest-growing online news outlets, which regularly breaks news and distributes it to over 15 million monthly readers. Patel also co-founded The Daily Caller News Foundation, a nonprofit news company that trains journalists, produces fact-checks and conducts longer-term investigative reporting. The Daily Caller News Foundation licenses its content free of charge to over 300 news outlets, reaching potentially hundreds of millions of people per month. To find out more about Neil Patel and read features by other Creators writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators website at www.creators.com
COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM
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dailycaller.com
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PATEL: America’s Leaders Can Help Save A Declining Country By Coming Clean On Afghanistan
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https://dailycaller.com/2021/08/19/patel-americas-leaders-save-declining-country-coming-clean-afghanistan/
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2021-08-20 02:06:57+00:00
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2021-08-20 01:32:18
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The Taliban has reportedly been “beating and harassing evacuees” at Kabul International Airport.
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The Taliban has reportedly been “beating and harassing evacuees” at Kabul International Airport, according to John Noonan, the senior counselor for Military & Defense Affairs with Republican Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton.
“Have been speaking with evacuees directly on the ground in Kabul,” Noonan tweeted. “Taliban not honoring their word. Obstructing ingress points to the airport, beating and harassing evacuees, scaring many off. US troops prohibited from expanding perimeter or helping. Many still stuck.”
Have been speaking with evacuees directly on the ground in Kabul. Taliban not honoring their word.
Obstructing ingress points to the airport, beating and harassing evacuees, scaring many off. US troops prohibited from expanding perimeter or helping. Many still stuck. — John Noonan (@noonanjo) August 19, 2021
Noonan tweeted he told one woman who had her 10-year-old daughter with her to move toward the East gate. The woman texted Noonan a picture of the Taliban pointing guns at evacuees and said they won’t let anyone through to the airport. “89 degrees, alone, with a little girl hurt from prior day’s rush on the gates,” Noonan tweeted. “She had to go back.”
I told one woman to move towards the East gate. She has her injured 10 year old girl with her. She sent me this pic and texted that Taliban won’t let them through. 89 degrees, alone, with a little girl hurt from prior day’s rush on the gates. She had to go back. pic.twitter.com/Qmga3boD09 — John Noonan (@noonanjo) August 19, 2021
Noonan also said another evacuee, a U.S. citizen, told him that he plans on going to the airport Friday with his injured mother. The U.S. citizen texted him that his friend has a broken back from being hit with an AK-47. (RELATED: Biden Administration Reportedly Charging American Citizens Thousands For Evacuation Out Of Afghanistan)
“I also have back problems because I got hit with back of machine gun,” the U.S. citizen texted Noonan.
Another evacuee, a US citizen texted: “We are going tomorrow to airport my mother is also injured and so is one the guys I think he has broken back from the When they hit him with an AK.” “I also have back problems because I got hit with back of machine gun.” — John Noonan (@noonanjo) August 19, 2021
“We are trying to get these people out, especially State Dept and our military who are both trying to work miracles against restrictive ROEs but they don’t have a good goddamn chance if the Taliban won’t let them near the airport,” Noonan tweeted.
We are trying to get these people out, especially State Dept and our military who are both trying to work miracles against restrictive ROEs but they don’t have a good goddamn chance if the Taliban won’t let them near the airport. — John Noonan (@noonanjo) August 19, 2021
The Taliban’s fast takeover in Afghanistan occurred after President Joe Biden ordered that U.S. troops withdraw from the country.
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dailycaller.com
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Taliban Reportedly ‘Beating And Harassing Evacuees, Scaring Many Off’
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https://dailycaller.com/2021/08/19/taliban-reportedly-not-honoring-their-word-beating-people-escape/
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2021-08-20 02:06:44+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:18:41
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A Canadian soldier was convicted on multiple charges stemming from an incident in 2018 where soldiers were given cupcakes laced with cannabis.
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A Canadian soldier was convicted on multiple charges stemming from an incident in 2018 where soldiers were given cupcakes laced with cannabis.
Bombardier Chelsea Cogswell was found guilty of dosing eight soldiers during a live-fire exercise at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown in the province of New Brunswick, the BBC reported.
The guilty verdict was announced Aug. 18 by Commander Sandra Sukstorf, the military judge presiding over the case. Sukstorf ruled that it had been proven that Cogswell knowingly gave the troops the cannabis-laced cupcakes. (RELATED: Why Did Canada Get Rid Of Their Special Forces? Former Minister Explains)
During the trial, one of the troops testified, “Small tasks were becoming harder and harder to do. I felt sluggish. I felt groggy … I just wasn’t fully there,” the CBC reported.
The soldiers who were affected compared notes and came to the conclusion they were high, and reported their symptoms to medical officers. Five of the troops later tested positive for cannabis, according to the CBC.
Major Élisabeth Baby-Cormier, the prosecutor, told the court during the trial that Cogswell “recklessly introduced risk in an already inherently risky activity, according to the outlet.
Baby-Cormier added that one soldier had been recovering from addiction and that another soldier who “made a conscious decision in her life never to try drugs” saw her choice “taken away from her” by Cogswell, the outlet stated.
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dailycaller.com
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Soldier Faces Jail For Feeding Cannabis Cupcakes To Troops During Live-Fire Exercise
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https://dailycaller.com/2021/08/19/soldier-jail-feeding-cannabis-cupcakes-troops-live-fire-exercise/
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2021-08-20 02:06:20+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:38:54
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Meghan McCain said President Joe Biden "is unfit to lead" and "there should be an emergency congressional hearing" before more "lives are lost" in Afghanistan.
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https%3A%2F%2Fdailycaller.com%2F2021%2F08%2F19%2Fbiden-unfit-lead-meghan-mccain-emergency-congressional-hearing-lives-lost-afghanistan%2F.json
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Meghan McCain said President Joe Biden “is unfit to lead” and called for “an emergency congressional hearing” before more “lives are lost” in Afghanistan.
“I have been physically ill, more depressed than I have been since the beginning stages of the pandemic and filled nothing short of pure rage and anger since the calamity of a ‘pull out’ which will be seen as one of the greatest foreign policy catastrophes of my lifetime,” the former co-host of “The View” captioned her lengthy post Thursday on Instagram. (RELATED: ‘My Ancestors Fought In The American Revolution’: Meghan McCain Speaks Out On Meghan Markle Interview As ‘#AbolishTheMonarchy’ Trends)
“I am furious our President was so incompetent not to see what every expert on the planet could have seen coming,” she added. “I am furious for my friends and family who have been fighting in these wars since I was 16 (many who have lost limbs, had their life terrorized by PTSD from their experiences in war and deployments, or worse).”
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Meghan McCain (@meghanmccain)
“I am furious seeing our allies and innocent Afghan citizens who trusted us are being left to be slaughtered or so desperate to escape the pure evil the Taliban will bring in that they are falling out of fucking planes,” McCain continued. (RELATED: Taliban Fighters Enter Kabul After Afghan President Flees)
The former Fox News host said “this is not who America is, this is not the values this country was founded in,” and said our veterans, the “innocent Afghan people” and “our allies and translators who have stood by us for the past 20 years deserve better.”(RELATED: Americans Are Trapped Behind Taliban Checkpoints, Have No Clear Path To US Perimeter, According To Tom Cotton’s Office)
McCain talked about the “shame, dishonor and embarrassment the Biden administration” has brought to our country and said it will “take generations to undo.”
“Not to mention our standing in the world and the cruel reality that the likelihood of another significant domestic terror attack has [now] risen to the highest levels since 9/11 and will usher in Isis 3.0.,” Meghan shared, before she called on people to reach out to “veteran friends and their families” because everyone she knows is “struggling” right now.
“Biden is unfit to lead and I am nothing short of disgusted he and his staff can’t seem to be bothered to leave their vacation during an international crisis of our own creation,” the former host added. “There should be an emergency congressional hearing before more innocent lives are lost. My heart is broken, this tragedy will absolutely haunt our country. Also – every single Afghan refugee fleeing must be granted a safe haven in America!”
McCain wasn’t the only one calling for the president to resign. Republican New York Rep. Claudia Tenney said that the president could “no longer serve as Commander-In-Chief” following the fall of the country to the Taliban.
“I can’t count how many times I’ve said it today alone, but it bears repeating,” Tenney tweeted. “Joe Biden can no longer serve as Commander-In-Chief. He must resign from office immediately. He has disgraced this entire nation.”
Former President Donald Trump also called on Biden to “resign in disgrace” over Afghanistan.
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dailycaller.com
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‘Biden Is Unfit To Lead’: Meghan McCain Says ‘There Should Be An Emergency Congressional Hearing’ Before More ‘Lives Are Lost’ In Afghanistan
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https://dailycaller.com/2021/08/19/biden-unfit-lead-meghan-mccain-emergency-congressional-hearing-lives-lost-afghanistan/
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2021-08-20 02:06:32+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:56:58
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Vince Coglianese told Fox News host and Daily Caller co-founder Tucker Carlson that he was worried about President Joe Biden's "mental decline."
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Daily Caller editorial director and radio show host Vince Coglianese told Fox News host and Daily Caller co-founder Tucker Carlson that he was worried about President Joe Biden’s “mental decline.”
Coglianese pointed out that some Biden critics had claimed that the president is just a puppet standing in for those who are actually in charge of policy decisions, but he said he worries that Biden might actually be in charge.
“That could explain any number of the disasters we see playing out in the United States of America right now,” he said. “I mean, he didn’t know that we have troops in Syria. He didn’t know that the video of the Afghans falling from that plane had happened two days ago, he thought it was 4-5 days ago – as if the timeline really matters – but he had no concept of time.” (RELATED: Biden Denies Military Leaders Warned Him Against Quick Withdrawal Date)
In addition to being unaware of the timeline of chaos at the Kabul airport, Coglianese pointed out that Biden didn’t know what his own intelligence community said about Afghanistan.
“And he didn’t know that you are not supposed to take the troops out before you take the civilians out,” he continued. “You don’t have to be Sun Tzu to know that that is terrible military strategy, and yet here he is, in one shot that we have to hear answers about this in front of a former Democrat Party spokesman, George Stephanopoulos, incoherent in his answers, bringing no comfort to any of us that someone is in charge.”
Carlson noted that they are not mocking Biden for his “mental decline,” but are concerned that someone in his state could be running the country.
“Well, I am nervous about his mental decline,” Coglianese said. “And not judgmental about it at all. But the reality is, this is the kind of person you wouldn’t let drive by themselves to go pick up their medication at the pharmacy.”
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dailycaller.com
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‘This Is The Kind Of Person You Wouldn’t Let Drive By Themselves’: Vince Coglianese And Tucker Carlson Worry About Biden’s ‘Mental Decline’
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https://dailycaller.com/2021/08/19/drive-vince-coglianese-tucker-carlson-worry-bidens-mental-decline/
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2021-08-20 02:06:51+00:00
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2021-08-20 01:44:53
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Several members of the popular 90s band Blues Traveler had to be rushed to the hospital after their tour bus crashed on its way to a show.
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Several members of the popular 90s band Blues Traveler had to be rushed to the hospital after their tour bus crashed on its way to a show in Rochester, Minnesota.
The front man of the band, John Popper, and a couple other band members were injured when their tour bus lost control on I-90 and crashed into the center median ditch, leaving several people injured, Minnesota police shared with TMZ in a piece published Thursday. (RELATED: Report: Kevin Hart Suffers ‘Major’ Injuries Following Car Accident)
A rep for Blues Traveler, Deborah Radel, told the outlet the band’s bush crashed on the interstate Wednesday night and the accident left everyone inside trapped until first responders and law enforcement got to them. (RELATED: Kevin Hart Admits To Lying About The Level Of Pain He Had Following Car Crash)
View this post on Instagram A post shared by TMZ (@tmz_tv)
Three of the band members were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Popper shared news about the crash on Facebook and explained he injured his ribs while another bandmate suffered a dislocated shoulder, the outlet noted.
“This morning our tour bus went off the road and crossed the median,” a message on the band’s Facebook page read. “Thankfully we are all safe and have only sustained minor injuries. Our sincere gratitude to the Winona MN, Police Department and Rescue Crew for their help getting us safely off the highway and out of oncoming traffic.”
Despite the crash, Blues Traveler is expected to perform their previously scheduled show Friday night at Mayo Civic Park in Rochester.
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dailycaller.com
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Star Musicians Rushed To Hospital After Tour Bus Crashes
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https://dailycaller.com/2021/08/19/star-musicians-rushed-hospital-after-tour-bus-crashes-minnesota/
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2021-08-20 02:06:14+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:29:36
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One of the two people, who fell to death off a U.S. Air Force plane Sunday, was identified to be a teen Afghan soccer player, a Thursday report shows.
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One of the two people who fell to death off a U.S. Air Force plane departing from Kabul’s international airport Sunday was identified to be a player of Afghanistan’s National youth soccer team, a sports federation said Thursday.
A 17-year-old Zaki Anwari was captured on camera falling off a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft after an unsuccessful attempt to cling to the military plane’s exterior.
“Anwari was one of hundreds of young people who wanted to leave the country and, in an incident, fell off an American military plane and died,” Afghanistan’s General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports said Thursday in a Facebook statement.
Zaki Anwari, a footballer of the Afghanistan Youth National Team was one of the unfortunate persons who was shown falling from a USAF Boeing C-17 plane while it just taken off, his identity was confirmed by the Afghan Directorate of Sports. pic.twitter.com/ftnqY0dJEJ — Iftikhar Firdous (@IftikharFirdous) August 19, 2021
The teenager was among at least three people who died during the U.S. military’s hasty evacuation efforts in the aftermath of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan’s capital Sunday.
Aside from the two people who fell off shortly after the aircraft’s takeoff, the remains of a third unidentified person were found in the wheel well of the military plane upon its arrival in the Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the U.S. Air Force said Tuesday. (RELATED: Shocking Video Appears To Show Afghan Hanging Out Of Landing Gear)
President Joe Biden said Wednesday the U.S. would keep troops in Afghanistan past his Aug. 31 withdrawal deadline in order to evacuate all Americans who are currently in the country.
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dailycaller.com
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Afghan National Youth Soccer Team Player Falls Off US Air Force Plane, Dies
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https://dailycaller.com/2021/08/19/afghan-teen-soccer-player-falls-us-air-force-plane/
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2021-08-20 01:58:18+00:00
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2021-08-20 01:06:42
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https%3A%2F%2Feurowire.co%2Funcategorized%2F11530%2Fsnowmaking-systems-market-classification-opportunities-types-applications-status-and-forecast-to-2025%2F.json
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Global Snowmaking Systems Market reports provide in-depth analysis of Top Players, Geography, End users, Applications, Competitor analysis, Revenue, Price, Gross Margin, Market Share, Import-Export data, Trends and Forecast. The study will feature estimates in terms of sales revenue and consumption from 2020 to 2025, at the global level and across the major regions mentioned above. The study has been created using a unique research methodology specifically designed for this market.
Quantitative information includes Snowmaking Systems market estimates and forecast for a upcoming years, at the global level, split across the key segments covered under the scope of the study, and the major regions and countries. Sales revenue and consumption estimates, year-on-year growth analysis, price estimation and trend analysis, etc. will be a part of quantitative information for the mentioned segments and regions/countries.
Request a Sample of Snowmaking Systems Market Research Report with 114 pages and Analysis of Key Players at https://www.insidemarketreports.com/sample-request/9/508991/Snowmaking-Systems
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Qualitative information will discuss the key factors driving the restraining the growth of the market, and the possible growth opportunities of the market, regulatory scenario, value chain and supply chain analysis, export and import analysis, attractive investment proposition, and Porter’s 5 Forces analysis among others will be a part of qualitative information. Further, justification for the estimates for each segments, and regions will also be provided in qualitative form.
The major types mentioned in the report are TypesMentioned and the applications covered in the report are ApplicationsMentioned.
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Which is the leading region/country for the growth of the market? What is the anticipated growth rate of the leading regions during the forecast period?
How are the emerging markets for Snowmaking Systems expected to perform in the coming years? How is the consumption pattern expected to evolve in the future?
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Snowmaking Systems Market: Classification, Opportunities, Types, Applications, Status and Forecast to 2025
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2021-08-20 01:44:26+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:47:00
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LONDON — G7 foreign ministers urged the international community on Thursday to unite in its response to the crisis in Afghanistan to prevent it from…
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Share this Story: G7 calls for international shared mission to limit Afghan crisis
G7 calls for international shared mission to limit Afghan crisis
Article content LONDON — G7 foreign ministers urged the international community on Thursday to unite in its response to the crisis in Afghanistan to prevent it from escalating, British foreign minister Dominic Raab said in a statement. Taliban militants seized control over the weekend in an upheaval that sent thousands of civilians and Afghan military allies fleeing for safety. Many fear a return to the austere interpretation of Islamic law imposed during the previous Taliban rule that ended 20 years ago. We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
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Article content “The G7 Ministers call on the international community to come together with a shared mission to prevent the crisis in Afghanistan escalating,” said Raab’s statement after a meeting of G7 foreign ministers. Britain currently holds the rotating leadership of the G7, which also includes the United States, Italy, France, Germany, Japan and Canada. “The crisis in Afghanistan requires an international response including intensive engagement on the critical questions facing Afghanistan and the region: with the Afghans most affected, parties to the conflict, the UN Security Council, the G20, international donors, and with Afghanistan’s regional neighbors,” the statement said. The UK said on Wednesday it would double its humanitarian and development aid to Afghanistan to 286 million pounds ($390 million) this year.
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Article content Karen Pierce, UK ambassador to the United States, said Britain wanted to use a meeting of G7 leaders next week to work out “how to preserve the gains we’ve made and how to stop it becoming a breeding ground for terror.” Pierce told broadcaster NPR’s “All Things Considered” program that Britain and the United States had been in almost daily contact with the Biden administration since NATO agreed on the decision to withdraw forces from Afghanistan. She said Britain hoped to coordinate with partners and allies on any acceptance of a new Afghan government “so that we’re all working on the same basis, so that we all understand the priority we want to give to countering terrorism, to human rights, to regional stability and to humanitarian issues.” Separately, Raab said late on Thursday that the UK and Turkey were working together in Afghanistan to ensure evacuations continue safely. He thanked Turkey for its commitment to safeguarding the Kabul airport alongside British troops. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Raab in a call that the world should guide and support Afghanistan as it moves to a new government instead of putting more pressure on it. ($1 = 0.7334 pounds) (Reporting by William James and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Elizabeth Piper, Peter Cooney and Lincoln Feast.)
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G7 calls for international shared mission to limit Afghan crisis
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2021-08-20 01:45:10+00:00
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2021-08-20 01:22:00
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Four front office executives for the Las Vegas Raiders left the team in recent weeks, and accounting problems involving the club’s new stadium were the…
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Article content
Four front office executives for the Las Vegas Raiders left the team in recent weeks, and accounting problems involving the club’s new stadium were the genesis, Forbes reported Thursday.
Front Office Sports reported that the Raiders have launched an investigation being conducted by outside lawyers.
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According to Forbes, the club might be facing tax issues as a result of irregularities connected to the finances of Allegiant Stadium.
Marc Badain, the most high-profile departure of the bunch, served as team president for more than six years before resigning July 19. Other executives to leave since June were chief financial officer Ed Villanueva, vice president of strategy and business development Brandon Doll and controller Araxie Grant.
The internal investigation would account for the Raiders not offering further information on the departures. Some of the speculation following those shakeups has centered on stadium issues — from a lack of parking for fans to difficulties in making the move from Oakland in general.
The Raiders finalized their relocation from Oakland to Las Vegas in the summer of 2020. Badain called the move “unequivocally the most challenging part of my 30 years with the organization.”
–Field Level Media
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nationalpost.com
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Reports: Stadium finance issues led to Raiders' front office shakeup
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2021-08-20 01:44:57+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:08:00
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Justin Thomas and Spain’s Jon Rahm separated themselves from the pack late in the first round and carded rounds of 8-under 63 to share a three-shot lead…
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Share this Story: Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas tied for first-round lead at Northern Trust
Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas tied for first-round lead at Northern Trust
Article content Justin Thomas and Spain’s Jon Rahm separated themselves from the pack late in the first round and carded rounds of 8-under 63 to share a three-shot lead Thursday at the Northern Trust at Liberty National in Jersey City, N.J. Rahm played his final four holes at 3 under and finished bogey-free, while Thomas recovered from an errant tee shot on No. 18 to finish off with a string of three birdies. We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas tied for first-round lead at Northern Trust Back to video They lead Harold Varner III by three shots. Behind Varner is a six-way tie at 4 under that includes Australian veteran Adam Scott.
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Article content Rahm, the world No. 1, and Thomas, ranked No. 5, are off to a hot start at the first leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs. Only 125 players qualified for the field based on points accrued during the regular season. Their low scores came at the end of a day marked by unpredictable winds. “It’s extremely difficult,” Rahm said. “The fact that me and Justin shot a low score like that, it shows it’s possible, but we both play really, really good golf. … If the wind stays up like this, let’s not expect everybody or all of us to be shooting 8-under every single day because that’s just not going to happen. Scores are out there. I think we just showed it. That’s mainly due to the fact of the softness of the greens.” Rahm strung together three birdies twice during his round: at Nos. 6-8 and again at Nos. 15-17 and finished with eight. Despite positive COVID-19 tests knocking him out of two separate events, Rahm is looking to continue a stellar season with the U.S. Open victory as its cornerstone.
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Article content Thomas’ tee shot on the final hole hooked far left and landed up on a hill to the outside of the cart path. But he played an outstanding second shot from 188 yards away, stopping the ball 3 feet from the pin to set up his ninth and final birdie of the day. Thomas credited a switch back to a former putter he hadn’t used since before the Scottish Open and Open Championship. “I was like, why am I not using this thing?” Thomas said. “I’ve had a lot of success. It’s not like I’m making a lot of putts with what I have. If you’re putting well, any of us can go out and putt with anything. I don’t know, it kind of hit me.” Varner’s 66 featured seven birdies and two bogeys and was the low score on the board for much of the day. Kevin Na nearly matched the score after converting an eagle at No. 6, but he finished his round with a bogey on No. 9 and joined the tie at 4-under 67 instead. Bryson DeChambeau had a wild afternoon, making five bogeys, two double bogeys, nine birdies and just two pars – adding up to an even-par 71. It was the fourth round the PGA Tour had on record in which a golfer made two pars or fewer and still finished at even or under par. DeChambeau’s score fluctuated all day so that he was never lower than 1 under par and never higher than 2 over. Defending champion Dustin Johnson, the three-time winner at the Northern Trust, shot a 1-under 70. FedEx Cup points leader Collin Morikawa turned in a 3-over 74. –Field Level Media
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Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas tied for first-round lead at Northern Trust
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2021-08-20 01:45:04+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:30:00
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Jason Terry was named head coach of the Grand Rapids Gold, the G League affiliate of the Denver Nuggets, on Thursday.
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Article content
Jason Terry was named head coach of the Grand Rapids Gold, the G League affiliate of the Denver Nuggets, on Thursday.
Terry played for six teams across 19 NBA seasons and was most recently an assistant coach for the University of Arizona. Terry ranks seventh in NBA history with 2,282 career 3-point baskets.
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Terry, 43, last played in 2018 for the Milwaukee Bucks. In 1,410 career games with the Atlanta Hawks (1999-2004), Dallas Mavericks (2004-12), Boston Celtics (2012-13), Brooklyn Nets (2013-14), Houston Rockets (2014-16) and Bucks (2016-18), the guard averaged 13.4 points and 3.8 assists per game and shot 38 percent from 3-point range.
It is not Terry’s first foray into the NBA’s main developmental league. He worked as the assistant general manager of the G League’s Texas Legends in 2019-20.
ESPN reported that Terry “wanted to get on a path to becoming a head coach.”
The Gold changed its name from the Grand Rapids Drive earlier this year. This will also be the first season the team is affiliated with the Nuggets.
–Field Level Media
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nationalpost.com
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Nuggets hire NBA alum Jason Terry to coach G League affiliate
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2021-08-20 01:44:14+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:55:00
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BEIJING — China has played a constructive role in promoting peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and is welcome to contribute to the rebuilding of the…
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We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Taliban militants seized control over the weekend in an upheaval that sent thousands of civilians and Afghan military allies fleeing for safety. Many fear a return to the austere interpretation of Islamic law imposed during the previous Taliban rule that ended 20 years ago.
BEIJING — China has played a constructive role in promoting peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and is welcome to contribute to the rebuilding of the country, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told Chinese state media.
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Article content
In dealing with the Taliban, an increasingly powerful China may be able to leverage the fact that unlike Russia and the United States, it has not fought in Afghanistan.
“China is a big country with a huge economy and capacity – I think they can play a very big role in the rebuilding, rehabilitation, reconstruction of Afghanistan,” Shaheen told CGTN television in an interview late on Thursday.
During Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s meeting with a Taliban delegation in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin last month, he said he hoped Afghanistan could adopt a moderate Islamist policy.
China has cited religious extremism as a destabilizing force in its western Xinjiang region and has long worried that Taliban-controlled territory would be used to harbor separatist forces. (Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Peter Cooney)
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China can contribute to Afghan development -Taliban spokesman
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2021-08-20 01:44:45+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:54:00
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The reigning WNBA champion Seattle Storm accepted an invitation to visit President Biden at the White House on Monday, the team announced.
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Article content
The reigning WNBA champion Seattle Storm accepted an invitation to visit President Biden at the White House on Monday, the team announced.
The Storm will be in Washington to play the Mystics the day before the visit.
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It marks the first time in five years that a WNBA championship squad will be honored at the White House, dating to the Minnesota Lynx’s 2016 visit following their 2015 title.
After winning the 2016 title, the Los Angeles Sparks were not able to squeeze in a visit before President Obama left office the following January. President Trump did not invite any WNBA champions to the White House during his administration, per multiple published accounts.
The Storm went 18-4 in the WNBA’s 2020 bubble season held entirely in Bradenton, Fla. They earned the second seed in the playoffs and went on to sweep the Las Vegas Aces 3-0 in the WNBA Finals. It was the franchise’s second championship in three years and fourth overall.
Seattle was led by former league MVP and two-time Finals MVP Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird and Jewell Loyd, all of whom are still with the Storm this year.
–Field Level Media
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Defending champion Storm to be honored at White House
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[
"Nandita Bose",
"David Brunnstrom"
] |
2021-08-20 01:44:33+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:48:00
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WASHINGTON — U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’s trip to Singapore and Vietnam starting on Sunday will show that the United States is in the region “to stay,”…
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Share this Story: Harris trip to Asia will show U.S. in region 'to stay,' official says
Harris trip to Asia will show U.S. in region 'to stay,' official says
Article content WASHINGTON — U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’s trip to Singapore and Vietnam starting on Sunday will show that the United States is in the region “to stay,” a senior administration official said, as Washington seeks to bolster international support to counter China’s growing global influence. Harris will be the most senior U.S. official to visit the region since President Joe Biden took office in January promising to shore up alliances, which the United States considers key to checking Chinese expansion. We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
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Article content A senior White House official told Reuters earlier this month that the vice president’s focus would be on defending international rules https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/harris-will-reject-chinas-claim-south-china-sea-during-trip-asia-2021-08-03 in the South China Sea, strengthening U.S. regional leadership and expanding security cooperation in the region. “The administration is … making clear that we have an enduring commitment to this region, that we’re part of the Indo-Pacific and in the region to stay,” the official said. The trip coincides with chaos in Afghanistan following Biden’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops after a 20-year war, the planning of which has been criticized at home and abroad.
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Article content The official said Harris would continue to work on issues tied to Afghanistan while on her Asia trip. “It’s been an overwhelming focus and priority of the whole team including the vice president … at the same time, it is also true that Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific are really important. And that’s why she’s going,” the official added. Harris is due in Singapore on Sunday. She will be the first U.S. vice president to visit Vietnam and arrives in the country on Tuesday and departs next Thursday. During her trip, Harris will meet Singapore’s President Halimah Yacob, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and deliver remarks on a U.S. combat ship visiting Singapore. She will also hold a meeting to discuss supply chain issues with representatives from the private sector and government. In Hanoi, Vietnam, Harris will meet with leaders including President Ngyuen Xuan Phuc and Prime Minister Pham Ming Chinh and lead the U.S. delegation in launching a regional office for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The visit to Southeast Asia will be Harris’ second foreign trip as vice president. In June, she went to Guatemala and Mexico for meetings on the “root causes” of the migrant crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. (Reporting by Nandita Bose and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Editing by Stephen Coates and Grant McCool)
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NP Posted Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign Up By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again
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nationalpost.com
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Harris trip to Asia will show U.S. in region 'to stay,' official says
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https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/harris-trip-to-asia-will-show-u-s-in-region-to-stay-official-says
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2021-08-20 01:44:51+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:05:00
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Philadelphia Eagles starting quarterback Jalen Hurts has an illness and is not playing in Thursday night’s preseason game against the New England Patriots.
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Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (illness) out vs. Patriots
Article content
Philadelphia Eagles starting quarterback Jalen Hurts has an illness and is not playing in Thursday night’s preseason game against the New England Patriots.
Joe Flacco started for the Eagles.
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Hurts started feeling unwell Thursday afternoon. The team says it’s not COVID-related. Hurts was on the field for pre-game warmups.
He wasn’t expected to play much against the Pats.
Hurts finished 3-for-7 passing for 54 yards in the Eagles’ first preseason game against Pittsburgh.
–Field Level Media
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nationalpost.com
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Eagles QB Jalen Hurts (illness) out vs. Patriots
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2021-08-20 01:44:20+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:25:00
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MEXICO CITY — Unidentified assailants shot a Mexican radio journalist dead outside his home in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz, local authorities said on…
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Article content
MEXICO CITY — Unidentified assailants shot a Mexican radio journalist dead outside his home in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz, local authorities said on Thursday.
Jacinto Romero, who wrote about local politics for Ori Stereo in Orizaba, died following the morning attack in the neighboring municipality Ixtaczoquitlan, authorities said.
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Romero was intercepted by an armed commando when he was driving through the town in his vehicle, local media reported.
Speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of suffering reprisals, a spokeswoman for the station told Reuters that Romero had received threats for his professional work.
According to a tally kept by Article 19, a nonprofit group dedicated to the protection of journalists, 141 journalists have been murdered in the country because of their work since 2000.
The tally does not include Romero.
(Reporting by Noe Torres and Raul Cortes Fernandez; Editing by Michael Perry)
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Journalist shot dead in Mexico
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2021-08-20 01:44:39+00:00
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2021-08-20 01:30:00
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The Atlantic Coast Conference on Thursday announced that teams that are unable to play games this season due to COVID-related player shortages will be forced…
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The Atlantic Coast Conference on Thursday announced that teams that are unable to play games this season due to COVID-related player shortages will be forced to forfeit the game.
In that event, the opponent will be credited with a victory while the forfeiting team takes a loss in the conference standings. The Pac-12 and Big 12 recently announced a similar standard within their respective leagues.
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If both teams are unable to field a team for a game, both will take losses in the ACC standings.
The conference also unveiled a three-pronged policy for testing:
— Fully vaccinated players are not subject to regular testing.
— Unvaccinated athletes on teams with vaccine rates below that 85-percent threshold must be tested at least three times per week.
— Unvaccinated athletes on a team with a vaccination rate of at least 85 percent must be tested once per week.
Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Syracuse and Boston College are requiring all students to be vaccinated unless there are mitigating reasons.
–Field Level Media
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nationalpost.com
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ACC unveils forfeit policy for player shortages due to COVID
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[
"Doug Feinberg",
"Ap Basketball Writer",
"Written By"
] |
2021-08-20 01:44:55+00:00
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2021-08-20 01:08:45
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NEW YORK (AP) — The Seattle Storm are heading to the White House to celebrate their...
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NEW YORK (AP) — The Seattle Storm are heading to the White House to celebrate their 2020 WNBA championship.
The team was formally invited by President Joe Biden to visit Monday afternoon. The Storm play at the Washington Mystics on Sunday.
“I think for a very long time, up until 2016, going to the White House was an honor. It wasn't necessarily political. It was to meet the president of the United States. The person who holds that office acknowledging your team's success,” said Seattle guard Sue Bird, who will be making her third trip to meet a president. “It was an incredible honor. Even when you watch a movie like ‘Forrest Gump,’ I'm dating myself a little bit, you understand in that movie what an incredible honor it was. It wasn't political. I think that all shifted in 2016.”
With former president Donald Trump out of office, Bird said she was happy to be going back. Many WNBA players including Bird have been outspoken in their embrace of social justice movements such as Black Lives Matter, which Trump characterized as violent, radical ideology. Trump was also critical of Bird's fiancee, U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe.
“Now that it's back in a place where it's considered an honor and you're recognized by the highest office in the country is exciting, it's fun,” Bird said. “It's not just about meeting the president or hopefully the vice president is there. It's about the whole experience of being in the White House. Having a day that's about your team and celebrating what you've accomplished.”
In addition to her two previous White House visits, Bird has been invited three other times after winning championships — once with UConn and twice with the Storm — but couldn't attend.
The Storm, who have won four titles, will be joined by the team's ownership group and WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. The team last visited the White House in 2011.
No NBA or WNBA team has visited the White House since the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 — Barack Obama's last year in office.
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More AP women's basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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Seattle Storm to visit White House, celebrate 2020 title
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[
"Kathleen Ronayne",
"Michael R. Blood",
"Associated Press",
"Written By"
] |
2021-08-20 01:44:37+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:54:10
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The former fiancee of Larry Elder said Thursday that the...
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The former fiancee of Larry Elder said Thursday that the conservative radio talk show host now running for governor in California showed her a gun during a heated argument in 2015.
Elder, widely seen as the leader in the Republican field running to replace Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in next month's recall election, issued a statement saying “I have never brandished a gun at anyone." Elder, who is seeking to become California's first Black governor, noted that he grew up in South Central Los Angeles, an area with high violent crime.
“I know exactly how destructive this type of behavior is,” he said.
Datig's accusation, first reported by Politico, comes with less than four weeks until the Sept. 14 election and at a time when mail-in ballots already have arrived at voters' homes. Elder said he intended to “stay focused on the issues” that inspired the recall drive by Republicans upset with Newsom's progressive policies and handling of the pandemic.
Datig, 51 and a longtime Los Angeles resident, said she worked on Elder's show and they lived together during their 18-month romantic relationship from 2013 to 2015,. A letter and other records provided by Datig to The Associated Press – including an April 6, 2015, email in which she wrote about the collapse of their engagement — sketched a portrait of an emotionally abusive relationship in which Elder routinely was using medicinal marijuana to excess.
Datig claims Elder was high during the 2015 argument and went to a cabinet where he kept his gun “and made sure it was in my view.”
“He did not point it at me, but he wanted to make sure that I knew that he was checking" to see it was loaded, she told the AP.
Threatening another person with a firearm could be a criminal offense but Datig said she never reported it to police.
Elder did not specifically address that claim about cannabis use in questions submitted to his campaign by AP. His statement in response to Datig’s claims of abuse referred broadly to “salacious allegations.”
“People do not get into public life precisely because of this type of politics of personal destruction. I am not going to dignify this with a response — it’s beneath me,” Elder wrote. A short time later he tweeted: “They’re coming at me with every dirty trick because they know what’s coming on September 14."
Another Republican in the race, state Assemblyman Kevin Kiley, said in a statement that he found Datig's claims disturbing.
“I believe that any woman who comes forward deserves to be heard, and Ms. Datig’s deeply troubling account should be treated with the utmost seriousness. Mr. Elder should be given every opportunity to respond,” he said.
Elder entered the race in July and Datig said she waited until now to come forward because she initially didn't think he would be competitive.
“I didn’t take it seriously but when Larry started to trend and become the frontrunner, I became extremely concerned,” she said.
Datig supports one of Elder’s Republican rivals, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer. Earlier this week Faulconer began targeting Elder for criticism and specifically questioning his attitudes about women, noting among other things that Elder had written that employers should be able to ask women if and when they plan to get pregnant.
Faulconer did not immediately comment on Datig's claims about Elder.
The documents provided by Datig described months of emotional distress from the unraveling romantic and business relationship. “I feel trapped and afraid,” she wrote in the mail.
A March 31, 2015, letter from her attorney to Elder asked for $6,000 in monthly support for Datig for one year, to cover expenses including rent, car and health care costs. She also asked for $195,000 for public relations, marketing and other services she said she provided for his show.
Datig also provided the AP with a copy of a confidentiality agreement she signed in 2014 barring her from speaking about the “personal and business affairs” of Elder and his business, Laurence A. Elder & Associates, Inc. She said she was breaking it to go public with her accusations.
__
Ronayne reported from Sacramento.
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[
"The Associated Press",
"Written By"
] |
2021-08-20 01:45:57+00:00
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2021-08-20 01:13:59
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A look at what’s happening around the majors on Friday:
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A look at what’s happening around the majors on Friday:
___
WHAT WILL SHOHEI DO NEXT?
The Shohei Ohtani road show heads to Cleveland after the two-way superstar thrilled opposing crowds in Detroit.
Ohtani’s Los Angeles Angels — whose playoff chances are slim at one game over .500 — will play two games at the Indians' home ballpark before both teams head to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, for the Little League Classic on Sunday night.
After that, LA travels to Baltimore for a three-game series against the major league-worst Orioles that’s expected to include Ohtani’s next mound start — perhaps a rare opportunity for Baltimore fans to feel some buzz.
Against Detroit, Ohtani had his longest mound start of the season, winning his fourth consecutive start with an eight-inning performance on Wednesday night. He also hit a towering, 430-foot homer — his major league-leading 40th of the season — that Tigers fans waiting for Miguel Cabrera to hit No. 500 couldn't help but admire.
Ohtani followed it up with a 2-for-3 day as the Angels rallied from an eight-run deficit to beat the Tigers on Thursday.
OPTIMISM IN HOUSTON
Astros manager Dusty Baker has reasons to feel good about his AL West-leading club even after an uninspired seven-game trip.
Houston went 3-4 on the road against the Angels and Royals and begins a weeklong homestand on Friday by hosting division rival Seattle. The Astros lead Oakland by 2 1/2 games, which hasn't escaped Baker's notice.
“I’ve been scoreboard watching every day,” Baker said. “Scoreboard watching is something I do between innings when I’m not thinking about what to do. We’re just looking forward to the finish line. We have a ways to go, and we haven’t played our best ball yet.”
One thing that's making Baker sanguine about the future is having Aledmys Díaz in the lineup. Díaz went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, including the go-ahead single in the 10th inning of a 6-3 win at Kansas City on Thursday.
“You can tell what (Díaz) means to this club (by looking at) the six weeks he was out,” Baker said.
SUB-BASEMENT
The major league-worst Baltimore Orioles haven't even come within two runs of a win in the past week.
The Orioles dropped their 15th straight game on Thursday, falling 7-2 to the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays. And most of them haven't been close.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, the Orioles are the first team since 1900 to lose 15 straight games by multiple runs. The closest Baltimore got was a 6-4 loss to Detroit on Aug. 12.
The Orioles have been outscored 138-42 during the skid, allowing an average of 9.2 runs per game.
After dropping four at Tampa Bay by scores of 9-2, 10-0, 8-4 and 7-2, Baltimore hosts another first-place team for a three-game series this weekend: NL-East winning Atlanta.
The Arizona Diamondbacks had the worst record in the majors for much of the season, but Baltimore now owns that distinction. Arizona is coming off a three-game sweep of Philadelphia and has won six of seven overall.
OCTOBER PREVIEW
Brandon Lowe knows this weekend may not be the last time the Rays face the Chicago White Sox in 2021.
The AL Central leaders visit the AL East leaders for a three-game series starting Friday.
“This is going to be kind of what we’re looking at postseason-wise, I feel like,” Lowe said. “You know the White Sox are going to make it, we feel like we’re going to make it. I think the games are going to be a little bit tougher, it’s going to be a little bit lower-scoring ballgames but it’s going to be a hard-fought battle for the whole series.”
Tampa Bay has won 11 of 14, and perhaps a playoff preview could lure a few more fans to Tropicana Field. In their four-game sweep of Baltimore, the Rays drew a total of 22,754 paying customers — an average of 5,689 per game.
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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2021-08-20 01:45:26+00:00
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2021-08-20 01:19:37
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UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — DeWanna Bonner scored a season-high 31 points and grabbed 11...
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UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — DeWanna Bonner scored a season-high 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Connecticut Sun beat the Minnesota Lynx 82-71 on Thursday night.
Bonner made 10 of 11 free throws — and Connecticut went 23 for 25 from the line — to help reach 30 points for the first time this season. It was her fifth double-double.
Jonquel Jones added 20 points and seven rebounds for Connecticut (17-6) despite being in foul trouble. The Sun turned it over 17 times but outrebounded the Lynx 31-23.
Sylvia Fowles led Minnesota (13-9) with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Layshia Clarendon added 15 points and Napheesa Collier scored 11.
Connecticut continues its five-game homestand on Tuesday against Las Vegas in a battle for sole possession of first place. Minnesota lost back-to-back games against Connecticut following an eight-game winning streak.
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More AP women’s basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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2021-08-20 01:44:12+00:00
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2021-08-20 01:24:44
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BURBANK, Calif. (AP) — Two teenagers were facing murder charges for a street-racing...
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BURBANK, Calif. (AP) — Two teenagers were facing murder charges for a street-racing crash that killed three people and critically injured a fourth in a Los Angeles suburb, authorities said Thursday.
Hamlet Aghajanyan, 19, of Burbank and a 17-year-old boy were taken into custody Thursday, police said.
Aghajanyan has been charged by the Los Angeles County district attorney's office with three counts of murder and one count of reckless driving, Burbank police said in a statement. He remained jailed on a $6 million bond.
The other youth, whose name wasn't released, was at a juvenile detention facility and prosecutors will determine whether to charge him with murder and reckless driving, police said.
It wasn't immediately clear whether the two had legal representation.
Authorities contend that Aghajanyan was driving a Kia and racing the other boy's Mercedes-Benz on Aug. 3 in Burbank when the Kia broad-sided a Volkswagen that was trying to make a turn.
The impact tore the Volkswagen in half and flung three people from the car. Killed at the scene were Jaiden Johnson, 20, of Burbank; Natalee Moghaddam, 19, of Calabasas and Cerain Baker, 21, the son of actor and comedian Tony Baker.
A fourth person in the car was hospitalized with critical injuries.
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[
"Beth Harris",
"Ap Sports Writer",
"Written By"
] |
2021-08-20 01:45:20+00:00
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2021-08-20 01:23:42
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mookie Betts says he’s feeling “really, really good” and is...
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mookie Betts says he’s feeling “really, really good” and is eager to return soon to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup from a stint on the injured list with right hip inflammation.
The All-Star outfielder has been on the IL since Aug. 8. He was diagnosed with a bone spur in his hip and recently received a second cortisone injection.
“It's the first time I've felt normal in a long time,” Betts said Thursday after a workout on the field before the Dodgers hosted the New York Mets. “There's no pain at all. Hopefully, I can stay on this path.”
Betts said his hip had been bothering him since the start of spring training in February. He described the pain as being so intense that it “locked me up pretty good.”
“I hope it just can get through the season and let it heal and not have to worry about it anymore,” he said.
Manager Dave Roberts said Betts could potentially return as early as next week. The Dodgers visit NL West rival San Diego for a three-game series starting Tuesday and return home next Friday to host Colorado. Roberts said Betts would decide whether or not he needs a rehab assignment first.
“Maybe just a couple at-bats and we'll go from there,” Betts said. “I would like to at least get hot, then cool off, then get hot and get back running around just to make sure. I don’t want to go out there and have to come out of the game.”
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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[
"Ken Ritter",
"Associated Press",
"Written By"
] |
2021-08-20 01:45:07+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:39:11
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LAS VEGAS (AP) — In a court ruling with potentially broad implications for U.S....
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LAS VEGAS (AP) — In a court ruling with potentially broad implications for U.S. immigration cases, a federal judge in Nevada found that a criminal law that dates to 1929 and makes it a felony for a person who has been deported to return to the United States is unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Miranda Du in Reno, in an order issued Wednesday, found the law widely known as Section 1326 is based on “racist, nativist roots” and discriminates against Mexican and Latinx people in violation of the equal protection clause of the Fifth Amendment.
“Anybody who works in federal courts knows the statute,” Franny Forsman, retired longtime chief of the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Nevada, said Thursday. “There really are a large number of cases that have been brought over the years under that section. They’re mostly public defender cases.”
Section 1326 of the Immigration and Nationality Act makes it a crime for a person to enter the U.S. if they have been denied admission, deported or removed. It was enacted in 1952 using language from the Undesirable Aliens Act passed by Congress in 1929. Penalties were stiffened five times between 1988 and 1996 to increase its deterrent value.
Forsman said she expected the government will appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.
But Julian Castro, secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Biden Administration, tweeted that he doubted the Justice Department would want to defend a law with “an incredibly racist history.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Chiou and an aide did not immediately respond to messages about the ruling.
Forsman called Du’s order groundbreaking for its thoroughness. Du, a Vietnamese immigrant, was nominated to the federal bench by President Barack Obama and sworn in in 2012.
“I think it will have implications because it’s going to be difficult to get around her reasoning,” Forsman said of the court order. “It’s a little hard to get around a statute that was called the ‘Wetback Act’ by the people enacting it.” The derogatory term often refers to Mexican migrants who have entered the country illegally, but it's also used to disparage all Hispanics.
Du said she considered written and oral arguments and expert testimony about the legislative history of the law from professors Benjamin Gonzalez O’Brien of San Diego State University and Kelly Lytle Hernández of the University of California, Los Angeles.
“Importantly, the government does not dispute that Section 1326 bears more heavily on Mexican and Latinx individuals,” the judge said in her 43-page order dismissing the June 2020 criminal indictment of Gustavo Carrillo-Lopez.
Carrillo-Lopez was arrested in Nevada in 2019 after having been deported in 1999 and again in 2012, according to prosecutors. His federal public defender, Lauren Gorman in Reno, did not immediately respond Thursday to an email.
The judge said she saw no publicly available data about the national origin of people prosecuted under Section 1326, but cited U.S. Border Patrol statistics showing that more than 97% of people apprehended at the border in 2000 were of Mexican decent, 86% in 2005, and 87% in 2010.
“The government argues that the stated impact is ‘a product of geography, not discrimination,’ and that the statistics are rather a feature of Mexico’s proximity to the United States, the history of Mexican employment patterns and the socio-political and economic factors that drive migration,” Du wrote. “The court is not persuaded.”
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2021-08-20 01:45:01+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:12:25
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TORRANCE, Calif. (AP) — Two former Torrance police officers pleaded not guilty Thursday...
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TORRANCE, Calif. (AP) — Two former Torrance police officers pleaded not guilty Thursday to spray-painting a swastika on an impounded car.
Christopher Tomsic, 29, and Cody Weldin, 28, entered pleas to felony charges of vandalism and conspiracy to commit vandalism, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office announced.
In January 2020, the two were with a group of officers in the Los Angeles suburb who answered a report about three men stealing mail from an apartment building. They were led to a car that was suspected of having been used in the crime, the DA's office said in a statement.
The vehicle was taken to a tow yard but when the owner arrived to pick it up, he found a happy face had been spray-painted on the front passenger seat and a swastika on the rear seat, prosecutors said.
Torrance police placed Tomsic and Weldin were placed on leave and after investigating, recommended that criminal charges be filed. Neither man works for the department any more, police said.
“Let me be clear. I will aggressively pursue any form of bigotry, hate and misconduct,” Torrance Police Chief Jeremiah Hart said.
The district attorney's office will review hundreds of criminal cases involving the two officers “to ensure no other alleged misconduct occurred," the DA's statement said.
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[
"Mark Thiessen",
"Associated Press",
"Written By"
] |
2021-08-20 01:44:49+00:00
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2021-08-20 01:29:19
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Law enforcement officials have completed their investigation...
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Law enforcement officials have completed their investigation into whether a U.S. Senate candidate and former State of Alaska official illegally obtained a fishing license for a sportfishing event two years ago and turned it over to a special prosecutorial branch of the Department of Law, an official said Thursday.
Kelly Tshibaka, a former commissioner in the state Department of Administration and a Republican candidate for Senate, received the license during an event on the Kenai River in 2019.
Records show she received the permit in August 2019, eight months after she moved to Alaska to take the commissioner’s job, the Anchorage Daily News has reported. To obtain a resident fishing license, state law says the person must have lived in the state for 12 consecutive months before applying for a license.
Tshibaka signed the license application, acknowledging she had read the rules for residency. She also indicated on the license that she was a resident for 15 years, 8 months.
A person could be fined up to $300 for knowingly violating the law on fishing licenses, a misdemeanor.
“After a thorough investigation by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers into the media reports regarding Mrs. Tshibaka the investigation has been completed and will now be reviewed by the Alaska Department of Law’s Office of Special Prosecutions,” Department of Public Safety spokesperson Austin McDaniel said in an email to The Associated Press.
When asked if it were unusual to involve the special office, he said in a follow-up email that law enforcement regularly works with prosecutors when building cases.
“Due to the circumstances involved with this investigation, the Alaska Wildlife Troopers requested an independent review of the case by the legal experts at the Alaska Department of Law,” McDaniel said.
Tim Murtaugh, a senior adviser to Tshibaka’s campaign, said she attended the 2019 Kenai River Classic in her capacity as commissioner.
He said her confirmation hearings were public and it was well-known she had just returned to the state.
“The event organizers asked if she had a current fishing license, and when she said she didn’t, they issued her one,” Murtaugh said in an email to the AP.
“The form was filled in for a license that expired after one day, going from August 22nd to the 23rd, which is only available to non-residents. This shows clear intent to purchase a non-resident license, not a resident license,” he said.
Tshibaka announced her resignation from the state on March 29, the same day she said she would challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
Murkowski, who was critical of former President Donald Trump, was censured by the Alaska Republican Party, which later endorsed Tshibaka in the race. Trump also has endorsed Tshibaka.
Murkowski has not announced whether she will seek reelection next year. However, last month Kevin Sweeney, a consultant to Murkowski’s campaign, said she had raised about $1.15 million in the second quarter of this year and had $2.3 million on hand.
That, Sweeney said, “strongly positions” Murkowski for a reelection bid.
Murkowski on Monday declined to discuss reelection plans.
__
Associated Press journalist Becky Bohrer in Juneau contributed to this report.
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2021-08-20 01:44:43+00:00
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2021-08-20 01:16:36
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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The former school resource officer accused of hiding...
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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The former school resource officer accused of hiding during a South Florida school shooting that left 17 people dead will have to convince a jury that he wasn't criminally negligent, a judge ruled Thursday.
Broward Circuit Judge Martin Fein declined to dismiss the child negligence charges against former Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson, the Sun Sentinel reported.
Peterson, 58, had worked as a school resource officer at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Nikolas Cruz, who was 19 at the time of the February 2018 shooting, has been charged with 17 counts of first-degree murder.
Prosecutors have said that Peterson failed to come to the rescue as Cruz was making his way through the school’s hallways. The law that Peterson is accused of breaking specifically applies to caregivers, but defense attorneys argued during a hearing Wednesday that a law enforcement officer doesn’t fit the legal definition of a caregiver.
Prosecutors are arguing that school resources officers are inherently different from other law enforcement officers and should be considered caregivers.
Fein ruled that a jury can decide whether a school resource officer should be considered a caregiver and noted that a jury instruction will be included to that effect.
Cruz faces the death penalty if convicted in the Valentine’s Day 2018 massacre in which 17 people were slain and 17 others were wounded. Cruz’s lawyers have said he would plead guilty in exchange for a life prison sentence, but prosecutors are insisting that his fate be decided by a jury trial.
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[
"Joe Reedy",
"Ap Sports Writer",
"Written By"
] |
2021-08-20 01:45:38+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:14:20
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COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — Sometimes the smallest things such as Derwin James walking to...
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COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — Sometimes the smallest things such as Derwin James walking to the podium can have huge significance during training camp.
For the first time in nearly 19 months, James got in productive work against another team as the Los Angeles Chargers faced the San Francisco 49ers in the first of two days of joint practices on Thursday.
It is the most work against another team that James and most of the veterans will get until the Sept. 12 opener at Washington.
“It’s big for me. We’re going out here going fast,” James said. “Their offense is one of the best in the league. Seeing the looks from them only helped me get better.”
As long as James can get through Friday unscathed, it will be considered a victory.
James was an All-Pro selection as a rookie in 2018, but has played in only five games the past two seasons because of training camp injuries.
There was the stress fracture to his right foot two years ago during practices against New Orleans that kept him out of action for 11 games.
Last year James tore the meniscus in his right knee during a team scrimmage that sidelined him for the season.
James is still considered one of the best safeties in the league despite the limited action over the past two seasons. New coach Brandon Staley will line up James all over the field as well as having him call the plays on defense.
“I feel like I could go again,” James said “With how we built this practice and everything, I got my legs under me, and I’m ready to go. I feel like I'm one of the leaders of the team now and I want to be available.”
Staley said he has been happy with how James has understood the play calls throughout camp.
“That’s what I love about him, it’s like we’ve been doing this for 10 years,” Staley said. “He’s starting to finish my sentences now, then there’s an, ‘I got you coach.’ That’s what you want to hear. He’s doing an outstanding job with that.”
James spent most of his time matched up against tight end George Kittle in what was a strong performance by the Chargers defense.
James nearly came up with an interception against Jimmy Garoppolo during the red zone period, but had it bounce off his hands.
“The energy, his technique; I think he’s hitting the sweet spot too,” Staley said. “It just reaffirms his confidence within himself. I think all that he’s built within the offseason and during the initial stages of training camp is measurable when he puts himself against a premium player, against a premium team. That’s going to build even more confidence in his game. I think you could see that out there today.”
James wasn’t the only member of the secondary to have a strong day. Second-round pick Asante Samuel made a diving interception on a pass thrown by Garoppolo in the red zone while first-year corner Kemon Hall, who was claimed off waivers from Dallas during the offseason, had an interception off rookie Trey Lance.
It was also an interesting matchup of coaches with San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan calling the offense against Staley and the Los Angeles defense.
“It was a good challenge for us. I’m always a fan of seeing new looks, new defenses, all that stuff. And I thought we handled it well. It was competitive all the way through, and I love this stuff,” Garoppolo said.
The other thing both coaches had to love was that it wasn't chippy for the most part. The only minor fracas came late in the practice when Shanahan walked into the Chargers huddle and told linebacker Kyzir White that it was a non-tackling drill after White took 49ers running back Raheem Mostert to the ground.
NOTES: Both Chargers starting offensive tackles are being held out for both days. Left tackle Rashawn Slater (back) and right tackle Bryan Bulaga (hip flexor) would have been available if it was a normal game week according to Staley. ... S Nasir Adderley (migraine), LB Chris Rumph (foot) and WR Joe Reed (foot) are also other Chargers injuries of note. ... Shanahan said offensive tackle Trent Williams isn't practicing after having his knee drained because of minor swelling. ... Shanahan also said WR Jalen Hurd (knee tendinitis) and OL Aaron Banks (shoulder) are also being held out this week with hopes they can play in next week's preseason finale against Las Vegas.
___
More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
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www.sfgate.com
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Chargers' James happy to go against another opponent
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https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Chargers-James-happy-to-go-against-another-16399318.php
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[
"Daniel Martin",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:19:04+00:00
|
2021-08-19 10:23:48
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Buying the right laptop is no easy task in general, but purchasing a laptop for elementary school is different.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.counton2.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Felectronics-br%2Flaptop-computers-br%2Fbest-laptop-for-elementary-school%2F.json
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en
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Children in the United States were not legally required to attend school until 1918, at which point they had to complete at least elementary school.
Which laptop is best for elementary school students?
Buying the right laptop is no easy task in general, but purchasing a laptop for elementary school can be that much harder to choose.
What to know before you buy a laptop for elementary school
Weight and battery life
Since your child will likely be dashing from the classroom to the library and everywhere else, two factors that you must consider are the overall weight and battery life. The former determines how uncomfortable your child is as they lug said laptop hither and yon as they attend elementary school, while the latter determines exactly how long they can use the laptop without requiring a recharge. To help your child excel, the selected laptops are classified as ultra-light or very lightweight and have amazingly long battery lives to keep them learning for hours and hours.
Warranty and price
Anyone who has or has been around children of elementary school age should expect any electronic equipment given to them will likely suffer a multitude of abuses, including drops, kicks and spilled drinks. If you didn’t plump for the extended warranty for a laptop that costs at least $500, you’d be kicking yourself for quite some time to come.
Unless your child happens to attend a private school or a wealthy school district that can provide your child with a laptop for academic usage, there’s a very high chance you’ll need to keep an eye out for seasonal sales on electronic equipment. Given that your child needs a robust and reliable PC for elementary school, they deserve a laptop that doesn’t break the bank. However, you should only purchase a decent laptop manufactured by a well-known company since you very much get what you pay for when buying a laptop.
Features of a quality laptop for elementary school
Add-ons
Depending on which apps your child’s elementary school will be making use of, it is worth considering what kind of operating system and apps can potentially run. For example, laptops running Chrome OS known as Chromebooks are capable of running programs like Microsoft Office and apps from both Android and Google. Laptops that use Microsoft Windows 10 as their operating system offer impressive parental controls so that their vast library of apps cannot download age-inappropriate content.
Though a conventional laptop will serve your child’s elementary school career for years to come, it’s well worth considering a two-in-one laptop/tablet PC. If you want your child to see what laptops are truly capable of, imagine their joy at being able to make their own artwork or take notes in class using a stylus or seeing their amazement at being able to transform their computer between a tablet and a conventional laptop.
Durability
Expensive technology and the inherent clumsiness of youth are a potent and often destructive combination that has led to the ruination of many laptops. As such, you should be sure that any laptop you purchase will prevent your child from experiencing unnecessary frustration and save you from having to buy a brand new laptop. Above all else, ensure that the laptop can withstand all the drops, scraps, spills and other damage that the unit will most likely incur.
Weight
Since the worries of elementary school students shouldn’t extend beyond what’s on the cafeteria menu and hanging out with friends at recess, they certainly don’t need a heavy laptop that slows them down. Modern times have made it even more crucial to have a laptop with a reliable webcam and that can easily connect to both Wi-Fi and ethernet for any online learning, especially when considering the global pandemic.
How much you can expect to spend on a laptop for elementary school
Though this may not be surprising, a decent laptop that will get your child through elementary school can easily cost you between $600-$1,000 or more. If you include other expenses like an extended warranty, increased RAM and processor upgrades, the costs can increase sharply.
Best laptop for medical school FAQ
How long will my child’s new laptop last?
A. Your child’s school will likely have the minimum laptop requirements available for your convenience, but the latest generation will surpass a typical laptop in approximately four years.
What software should I purchase for elementary school?
A. Setting up your child with basic programs, including Microsoft Office Suite and the Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader, will only help set them up for future success. Though, it is likely you will have to install specific software as directed by your child’s middle school.
What’s the best laptop for elementary school to buy?
Top laptop for elementary school
Microsoft Surface Go 2
What you need to know: Give your child a laptop that weighs barely over a pound while commanding some of the best technology available.
What you’ll love: It is capable of restoring 80% of maximum battery life in 1 1/2 hours, as well as including the Digital Pen and a 10.5-inch touchscreen.
What you should consider: Users have reported issues with Wi-Fi connectivity and downloading necessary software updates.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top laptop for elementary school for the money
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 10.1-Inch 2-in-1 Laptop
What you need to know: This laptop will boot up in a matter of seconds, so your child will never need to wait for load times.
What you’ll love: It comes with a 10.1-inch FHD IPS display.
What you should consider: Users have reported issues integrating Google Chrome and Android programs and noted the lack of a USB port compared to other models.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Acer Spin 3 Convertible Laptop
What you need to know: The newest iteration of Acer’s popular Spin series has very impressive capabilities.
What you’ll love: It comes with the 10th Generation Intel Core i5-1035G1, 14-inch FHD Widescreen IPS LED touchscreen and fingerprint sensor.
What you should consider: Some users have reported this unit spontaneously failing after several months.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Daniel Martin writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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www.counton2.com
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Best laptop for elementary school
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https://www.counton2.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/laptop-computers-br/best-laptop-for-elementary-school/
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[
"Katy Palmer",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:19:38+00:00
|
2021-08-19 12:57:44
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Our team of experts has selected the best travel coffee mug out of hundreds of options. Don't buy a travel coffee mug before reading these reviews.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.counton2.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Fkitchen-br%2Fcoffee-accessories-br%2Fbest-travel-coffee-mug%2F.json
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en
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The best way to help your travel coffee mug retain its temperature for longer is to preheat or pre-cool it while you wait for your coffee to brew.
Which travel coffee mugs are best?
Whether you’re at the office, on a mountaintop or on the road, there are travel coffee mugs designed for all your caffeinated activities.
Travel coffee mugs come in many shapes, sizes and styles. Picking the best travel coffee mug for your needs depends on how and where you plan to use it.
What to know before you buy a travel coffee mug
A few considerations are key to finding your ideal travel coffee mug. The size, shape, lid and handle of your mug depend on your lifestyle and coffee drinking habits. Consider how much, how often and where you’ll be drinking your coffee before buying a new mug.
Size
Generally, travel coffee mugs come in 12-, 16- and 20-ounce sizes. How much coffee you drink determines how big of a travel coffee mug you need to buy. If you take your coffee with creamer, sweetener or other ingredients, make sure your travel mug has enough room for you to add those on top of your usual serving of coffee.
Shape
While most travel coffee mugs will fit in cup holders, not all are designed with cup holders in mind. Some mugs are wider than others, while others are skinny at the base and wider at the top. Consider where you’ll most likely be while drinking your coffee on the go.
Lid
The lid on a travel coffee mug is essential to keeping your liquid from spilling. Lids can have a pop-open, slide-open or screw-off top for drinking. Some may even have a hole to insert a straw. Lids that you can open one-handed are best for commuters or adventurers who may only have one hand free at a time.
Handle
If you’re a coffee drinker who loves the feeling of a classic coffee mug, a handle is a must. Tall mugs with handles may fit well in cup holders if you plan to caffeinate while in the car.
What to look for in a quality travel coffee mug
Once you know the size and shape of your perfect mug, you need to find one that provides an excellent coffee drinking experience. No matter how you take your java, make sure you find a mug that maintains your drink’s temperature, prevents spills and is easy to clean on the go.
Temperature control
Possibly the most important feature of a travel coffee mug is to keep your coffee as hot or cold as you like for as long as you’re drinking it. Travel coffee mugs are built to maintain temperature with specific design features such as vacuum-sealed walls, stainless steel or copper materials and airtight lids. Quality travel mugs will also prevent condensation and burns by keeping the outer mug and handle at room temperature.
Spill-proof
Another key feature of quality travel coffee mugs is their ability to keep liquid from leaking out. Look for leak-proof lids that are airtight, locking or have sturdy rubber gaskets.
Easy to clean
When you’re on the go, cleaning dishes can be a challenge. Travel coffee mugs that are easy to clean have fewer parts to disassemble, no crevices that can trap gunk in hard-to-reach places and wide mouths so you can scrub thoroughly inside and out.
How much you can expect to spend on a travel coffee mug
Travel coffee mugs can range from $15-$50.
Travel coffee mug FAQ
What is a vacuum-insulated mug?
A. In a vacuum-insulated mug, there is more than one wall surrounding the mug. A double- or triple-walled travel mug has multiple linings with an air gap between them. This allows the inner liquid to retain its temperature longer since it’s less exposed to the outside air.
Can I make my travel mug retain temperature longer?
A. Yes. The best way to help your travel mug retain its temperature for longer is to preheat or pre-cool it while you wait for your coffee to brew. Before pouring your coffee in, pour hot water into the mug and let it sit for a minute. Then, pour out the hot water and add your coffee. If you’re making an iced coffee, let ice water sit in the mug for a minute before you empty it to add your drink.
How do I clean my travel mug?
A. Check your product instruction guide to see if the mug is dishwasher-safe. If it’s not, a simple scrub with dish soap and warm water will do the trick. For stainless steel coffee mugs, use a gentle sponge and avoid steel wool and harsh detergents.
What’s the best travel coffee mug to buy?
Best of the best travel coffee mug
Thermos Stainless King 16-ounce Travel Mug with Handle
What you need to know: This is a state-of-the-art travel mug that checks all the boxes.
What you’ll love: The mug is vacuum-insulated for long-term temperature control. A built-in tea hook makes brewing tea on the go even easier. A slim base fits in most cup holders, and a handle makes for easy grip carrying. Materials are BPA-free.
What you should consider: Some customers have said the handle can be awkward to hold.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Kohl’s and Staples
Best bang for your buck travel coffee mug
Finedine Double Wall Stainless Steel Coffee Mug
What you need to know: This is the ideal mug for hardcore coffee drinkers on a budget.
What you’ll love: This sleek design features a stainless steel finish inside and out. The outside of the mug stays cool even if your coffee is piping hot. The lids are spill-resistant. The mug is dishwasher-safe.
What you should consider: While the mug is stainless steel, the lid is made of plastic.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Best leak-proof travel coffee mug
MiiR Insulated Travel Tumbler with Locking Flip Lid
What you need to know: This travel tumbler offers a sleek design with an absolutely leak-proof lid.
What you’ll love: The simple design is appealing, easy to hold and fits in all cup holders. The locking lid seals liquids in and is easy to open one-handed when you’re ready to sip. The vacuum-insulated stainless steel design keeps coffee hot or iced drinks cool for hours. It’s top-rack dishwasher-safe.
What you should consider: Some customers mentioned getting a drop of coffee on their nose from the flip-up lid when they go to drink.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Best durable travel coffee mug
YETI Rambler Stainless Steel Mug
What you need to know: This compact travel coffee mug is a reliable choice for enjoying a cup of coffee while adventuring outdoors.
What you’ll love: These mugs are made with kitchen-grade stainless steel, making them puncture- and rust-resistant. Double-wall vacuum insulation controls the temperature of your drinks while protecting your hands. The wide design and comfortable handle are reminiscent of a typical coffee mug. These mugs are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. You can choose from over 15 colors.
What you should consider: Some customers said it didn’t keep their coffee as hot as they expected.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Best design travel coffee mug
S’well Stainless Steel Traveler
What you need to know: This travel mug is for the coffee drinker who wants a mug to express their personality.
What you’ll love: Triple-walled insulation ensures your coffee stays hot. This travel thermos is available in over 20 colors and designs. The bottle is sweat-free, leak-proof and fits in all standard-size cup holders. The opening is large enough to fit most ice cubes for iced coffee drinkers.
What you should consider: Some customers report that the lid gets stuck.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Katy Palmer writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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www.counton2.com
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Best travel coffee mug
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https://www.counton2.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/coffee-accessories-br/best-travel-coffee-mug/
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[
"Tom Hays",
"Associated Press",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:15:26+00:00
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2021-08-19 15:50:32
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NEW YORK (AP) — A key accuserat the R. Kelly sex-trafficking trial returned to the witness stand on Thursday, first claiming Kelly had a Girl Scout fetish and then weeping when a prosecutor asked her to read out loud from a journal entry describing how he allegedly beat and choked her the last time they […]
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.counton2.com%2Fnews%2Fnational-news%2Faccuser-at-r-kelly-sex-trafficking-trial-resumes-testimony%2F.json
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en
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In this courtroom sketch Jerhonda Pace testifies against R&B star R. Kelly during the singer’s sex abuse trial Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)
NEW YORK (AP) — A key accuserat the R. Kelly sex-trafficking trial returned to the witness stand on Thursday, first claiming Kelly had a Girl Scout fetish and then weeping when a prosecutor asked her to read out loud from a journal entry describing how he allegedly beat and choked her the last time they were together in 2010.
Jerhonda Pace, who had remained stoic during nearly two days on the witness stand, read how Kelly cursed at her and slapped her three times, telling her, “It’s not going to be an open fist next time.” She wrote that he choked her and sexually assaulted her before she “became fed up with him” and left.
Pace testified she believed Kelly gave her herpes, backing allegations by prosecutors that he broke the law by knowingly transmitting the STD. They offered more evidence on that point by calling his personal physician to the witness stand later Thursday to testify the singer had a long history of treatment for herpes.
Pace, who is pregnant and only a few days from her due date, asked for a break so she could compose herself.
She resumed her testimony in Brooklyn federal court a day after telling jurors she was a 16-year-old virgin and a member of Kelly’s fan club when he invited her to his mansion in 2010. While there, she said, she was told to follow “Rob’s rules” — edicts restricting how she could dress, who she could speak with and when she could use the bathroom.
She said Kelly — born Robert Sylvester Kelly — sometimes demanded she wear pigtails and “dress like a Girl Scout” during sexual encounters that Kelly often videotaped.
On cross examination, defense attorney Deveraux Cannick sought to show Pace hid her true motivations regarding Kelly and deceived him by lying about her age.
“You were in fact stalking him, right?” Cannick asked.
“That is not right,” she responded.
Pace had testified earlier the she told Kelly she was 19 when they met but had informed him she was only 16 by the time he sexually abused her.
Cannick confronted her with a lawsuit settlement she signed indicating she agreed she never revealed to Kelly that she was a minor. She said it was in exchange for hush money.
The questioning fit a theme that defense lawyers have repeatedly pushed early in the trial: Kelly was victimized by groupies who hounded him at shows and afterward, only to turn against him years later when public sentiment shifted against him, they allege.
To bolster their claims against Kelly, prosecutors showed jurors on Thursday screenshots from Pace’s phone showing several communications with Kelly in January 2010, including a text from him reading, “Please call.” There was also a photo of her with “Rob” tattooed to her chest. She said she’s since “covered it up with a black heart.”
Later, Dr. Kris McGrath told jurors that he had been prescribing herpes medication for Kelly since at least 2007 and became fast friends with him until 2019, sometimes examining the singer during house calls at his mansion. Kelly didn’t pay for treatment, but instead picked up the tab for the doctor to attend his concerts in Chicago, New York and elsewhere, he testified.
Pace, the trial’s first witness, was among multiple female accusers — mostly referred to in court as “Jane Does” — expected to testify at a trial scheduled to last several weeks. Other likely witnesses include cooperating former associates who have never spoken publicly before about their experiences with Kelly.
The Associated Press doesn’t name alleged victims of sexual abuse without their consent unless they have shared their identities publicly. Pace has appeared in a documentary and participated in media interviews.
Kelly, 54, has denied accusations that he preyed on Pace and other victims during a 30-year career highlighted by his smash hit “I Believe I Can Fly,” a 1996 song that became an inspirational anthem played at school graduations, weddings, advertisements and elsewhere.
The testimony comes more than a decade after Kelly was acquitted in a 2008 child pornography case in Chicago. The reprieve allowed his music career to continue until the #MeToo era caught up with him, emboldening alleged victims to come forward.
The women’s stories got wide exposure with the Lifetime documentary “Surviving R. Kelly.” The series explored how an entourage of supporters protected Kelly and silenced his victims for decades, foreshadowing the federal racketeering conspiracy case that landed Kelly in jail in 2019.
The trial is occurring beforean anonymous jury of seven men and five women.Following several delays due mostly to the pandemic, the trial unfolds under coronavirus precautions restricting the press and the public to overflow courtrooms with video feeds.
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www.counton2.com
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Woman weeps while testifying against R. Kelly about assault
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https://www.counton2.com/news/national-news/accuser-at-r-kelly-sex-trafficking-trial-resumes-testimony/
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[
"Kellie Meyer",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:02:36+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:05:57
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The deadline to get U.S. troops out of Afghanistan is approaching, and officials with the Pentagon say only 7,000 people have been evacuated from Kabul this week. That's much lower than the goal of evacuating 5,000 to 8,000 Americans and eligible Afghans per day.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.counton2.com%2Fnews%2Fwashington-dc%2Fonly-7k-evacuated-from-afghanistan-this-week-much-lower-than-goal%2F.json
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en
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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — The deadline to get U.S. troops out of Afghanistan is approaching, and officials with the Pentagon say only 7,000 people have been evacuated from Kabul this week. That’s much lower than the goal of evacuating 5,000 to 8,000 Americans and eligible Afghans per day.
“We want to make sure we are taking care of those people who have helped us,” Rep. Rob Wittman said.
The Virginia Republican wants not only U.S. military and their families out safely, but the Afghan translators that helped over the last 20 years. He’s worried they won’t get out in time.
“There are so many SIV – Special Immigrant Visa – applications that the State Department is just overwhelmed,” Wittman explained.
Wittman says, in addition to Special Immigrant Visas, the humanitarian parole option could allow Afghan allies into the United States temporarily.
“We encourage everyone that is there in Afghanistan trying to get out to pursue both of those processes in unison,” he said.
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Frank McKenzie, the commander of U.S. Central Command, enters a plane evacuating people, at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021. (Capt. William Urban/U.S. Navy via AP )
In this photo provided by the U.S. Marine Corps, civilians prepare to board a plane during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. (Staff Sgt. Victor Mancilla/U.S. Marine Corps via AP)
The Afghan flag remains on the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021. The U.S. military has taken over Afghanistan’s airspace as it struggles to manage a chaotic evacuation after the Taliban rolled into the capital. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
The Pentagon says the Kabul airport is secure, but Nexstar’s Washington D.C. bureau asked Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby what they’re doing to make sure U.S. citizens and our allies can even get to the airport.
“There has been no hostile interactions between the Taliban and our forces,” Kirby said Thursday.
And Kirby adds they’ve made something clear to the Taliban.
“Any attack on our people and our operations at the airport will be met with a forceful response.”
For now, U.S. troops are still scheduled to be out of the country by Aug. 31. The Pentagon says any change to that deadline would require new conversations with the Taliban.
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www.counton2.com
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Only 7K evacuated from Afghanistan this week, much lower than goal
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https://www.counton2.com/news/washington-dc/only-7k-evacuated-from-afghanistan-this-week-much-lower-than-goal/
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[
"Chase Laudenslager",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:15:14+00:00
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2021-08-20 01:49:26
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HAMPTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Connor Cook, a survivor of the February 23, 2019 boat crash that killed Mallory Beach, claims he was told by Alex Murdaugh to lie about who was driving the boat, according to documents filed Wednesday in Richland County. The documents were filed as part of a case brought by Cook which […]
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.counton2.com%2Fnews%2Fcrime%2Fnew-documents-passenger-says-murdaugh-family-told-him-to-lie-about-who-was-driving-boat-before-fatal-crash%2F.json
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en
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HAMPTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Connor Cook, a survivor of the February 23, 2019 boat crash that killed Mallory Beach, claims he was told by Alex Murdaugh to lie about who was driving the boat, according to documents filed Wednesday in Richland County.
The documents were filed as part of a case brought by Cook which alleges a “conspiracy to misdirect the criminal investigation away from now deceased, Paul Murdaugh, and to wrongfully shift the focus” to Cook.
During a January 13, 2020 deposition, Cook claims that despite initially telling law enforcement he did not remember who was driving the boat at the time of the crash, he did know who was driving the boat; he says it was Paul Murdaugh.
Cook said that while at the hospital, Alex Murdaugh (Paul Murdaugh’s Father) stopped him in the hallway and told him “that everything was going to be alright. [Cook] just needed to keep [his] mouth shut and tell them [he] didn’t know who was driving.”
When asked why he was scared to tell the truth, Cook said “well, I was told not to, and being who they are, I was doing what I was told.”
The investigator asked if Cook had any other reason to be concerned about the Murdaughs and Cook cited two alleged instances:
“One was said that Paul had pushed his [house maid] down the stairs and she died and nothing ever happened. And another one, there was something that Paul was supposedly involved with a guy, got found beat up in the middle of the road that they got out of.” Connor Cook
Cook went on to say “just anything they get in, they get out of.”
Alex Murdaugh also recommended Cook’s first attorney, who Cook has since dropped.
Cook said he decided to come forward when he learned blame was being shifted to him for the crash.
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www.counton2.com
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New documents: Passenger says Murdaugh family told him to lie about who was driving boat before fatal crash
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https://www.counton2.com/news/crime/new-documents-passenger-says-murdaugh-family-told-him-to-lie-about-who-was-driving-boat-before-fatal-crash/
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[
"Bill Barrow",
"Associated Press",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:16:45+00:00
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2021-08-19 05:15:43
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ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter is sometimes called a better former president than he was president. Nodding to Carter’s decades of work as a globe-trotting humanitarian but with a glaring reminder of his landslide defeat in 1980, the backhanded compliment rankles Carter allies and, they say, the former president himself. Yet now, 40 years removed […]
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.counton2.com%2Fnews%2Fnational-news%2Fjimmy-carter-trounced-in-1980-gets-fresh-look-from-history%2F.json
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en
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FILE – In this Nov. 3, 2019, file photo, former President Jimmy Carter teaches Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Ga. Carter is sometimes called a better former president than he was president. The backhanded compliment has always rankled Carter allies and, they say, the former president himself. Yet now, 40 years removed from the White House, the most famous resident of Plains, Georgia, is riding a new wave of attention as biographers, filmmakers, climate activists and Carter’s fellow Democrats push for a recasting of his presidential legacy. (AP Photo/John Amis, File)
ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter is sometimes called a better former president than he was president.
Nodding to Carter’s decades of work as a globe-trotting humanitarian but with a glaring reminder of his landslide defeat in 1980, the backhanded compliment rankles Carter allies and, they say, the former president himself.
Yet now, 40 years removed from the White House, the most famous resident of Plains, Georgia, is riding a new wave of attention as biographers, filmmakers, climate activists and Carter’s fellow Democrats push to recast his presidential legacy, even as Republicans sometimes try to remind voters of the volatile economy and international affairs that doomed Carter to one term.
The renewed spotlight is especially significant for the broad swath of Americans too young to remember a presidency that spanned from 1977 to 1981. Sandwiched between the Watergate era of Richard Nixon and two terms of Ronald Reagan, Carter’s tenure came before Millennials or Generation Z voters were born and earlier than most of Generation X reached political awareness.
“People have always come up to tell me how much, my grandfather and my grandmother meant to them,” Jason Carter, 46, said in an interview. “They used to be my parents’ age or older. Now they’re younger than I am, sometimes much younger. It’s a remarkable thing.”
Many of those fans have known Carter, now 96 and largely confined to his home, only as the aging humanitarian occasionally in the news for building Habitat for Humanity houses, a critique of a successor or his latest health challenge.
In the past year, however, CNN released a documentary titled: “Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President” and independent documentarists Jim Pattiz and Will Pattiz debuted “Carterland” at the Atlanta Film Festival. Two new books hit shelves in the same span: one a comprehensive biography, the other a narrower look at Carter’s time in Washington. In the preceding two years, new books included an explanation of how Carter’s 1976 victory rewrote the rules of modern presidential campaigns and an in-depth analysis of Carter’s White House years by his then-domestic policy adviser.
Altogether, the new works depict not a failed president but an ambitious, far-reaching one who is getting a more nuanced assessment from history than he got from his contemporaries.
The Pattiz brothers, documentary filmmakers born a decade after Carter left the White House, emerged from producing “Carterland” to see the 39th president as a visionary on environmental issues, especially.
“Carter had these very farsighted views of how he wanted to solve the energy crisis, and it involved conservation, but also involved turning away from fossil fuels and turning toward renewable energy, things like solar power and other renewables,” said Jim Pattiz, 29.
Carter put solar panels on the White House, and he called for “shared sacrifice” to confront energy shortages. But he couldn’t overcome voters’ frustrations with fuel prices and availability. The solar panels were removed during Reagan’s presidency. But Will Pattiz, 30, said time vindicated Carter. If “President Carter had gotten an extra term in office,” he said, “we likely wouldn’t be having a climate crisis right now.”
Carter likely wouldn’t go that far. In 2019, the former president used his last annual presentation at The Carter Center in Atlanta to blame himself for his post-presidential center being “basically mute on the subject of global warming.”
In his new book, “The Outlier,” historian Kai Bird writes that Carter’s “domestic and foreign policy ledgers are lengthy and fulsome.” Carter’s brokerage of the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt remain his most undisputed success. But Bird also highlights Carter policies sometimes associated more with others. Carter negotiated SALT II nuclear arms treaty with the Soviet Union, leaving Reagan a firm foundation for his dealings with the Kremlin.
The Iran hostage crises cemented Carter’s defeat. But Bird and Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy adviser, detail in their books how Carter and his administration won the hostages’ release, even if Tehran held them until Reagan’s inauguration.
On the domestic front, it was Carter, not Reagan, who started the widespread deregulation of industries including airlines, natural gas, railroads and trucking. Carter came as close to a major health care overhaul as any president did until President Barack Obama’s 2010 Affordable Care Act. And for all the political damage Carter suffered for inflation it was Carter’s appointee as Federal Reserve chairman, Paul Volcker, whose monetary policies curbed the spikes of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Jason Carter said the new wave of analyses look beyond “the political failure of not getting reelected as the defining factor” of Carter’s presidency.
Beyond policy details, Amber Roessner, a 41-year-old University of Tennessee professor who wrote “Jimmy Carter and the Birth of the Marathon Media Campaign,” said Carter’s broader political identity from the 1970s has “regained some saliency.”
Carter, she said, ran and governed with a “message of moral reform,” emphasizing competence and moderation. He espoused his born-again Christianity and called in his nomination acceptance for “love to be aggressively translated into simple justice.”
In 1976, that was the antidote to the Watergate scandal, Nixon’s resignation and the dynamics that lingered from Vietnam and the civil rights era. Now, it translates to the 21st century’s hyperpartisan politics, the nation’s latest reckoning with racism and former President Donald Trump’s turbulent tenure and serial mistruths.
“There are so many parallels,” Roessner said.
It was enough to draw multiple Democratic presidential candidates to Plains during the 2020 presidential campaign, something that hadn’t happened in the previous four decades.
“There was so much distrust in government (and) he had a message of truth and honesty,” Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar told The Associated Press, explaining after one of her visits why she sometimes invoked Carter as she campaigned.
Biden, who as a young Delaware politician became the first U.S. senator to endorse Carter’s 1976 bid, capped the pilgrimage parade in April, as he and first lady Jill Biden visited privately with Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter at their home.
“We talked about old times,” Biden told reporters afterward.
If anything, two presidents huddling in small-town south Georgia carried a weightier message: Old is new again.
___
Associated Press writer Alex Sanz contributed to this report.
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Jimmy Carter, trounced in 1980, gets fresh look from history
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[
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:17:24+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:43:44
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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Investigators are considering whether toxic algae blooms or other hazards may have contributed to the deaths of a Northern California couple, their baby and the family dog on a remote hiking trail, authorities said. The area in the Sierra National Forest where the bodies were found on Tuesday had been treated […]
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A Mariposa County deputy sheriff stands watch over a remote area northeast of the town of Mariposa, Calif., on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, near the area where a family and their dog were reportedly found dead the day before. Investigators are considering whether toxic algae blooms or other hazards may have contributed to the deaths of the Northern California couple, their baby and the family dog on a remote hiking trail, authorities said. (Craig Kohlruss/The Fresno Bee via AP)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Investigators are considering whether toxic algae blooms or other hazards may have contributed to the deaths of a Northern California couple, their baby and the family dog on a remote hiking trail, authorities said.
The area in the Sierra National Forest where the bodies were found on Tuesday had been treated as a hazmat site after concerns were raised about the deaths being linked to potentially toxic gases from old mines nearby.
But the hazmat declaration was lifted Wednesday, and Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese said he didn’t believe the mines were a factor, the Fresno Bee reported Thursday.
“This is a very unusual, unique situation,” said Kristie Mitchell, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office. “There were no signs of trauma, no obvious cause of death. There was no suicide note.”
John Gerrish, his wife, Ellen Chung, their 1-year-old daughter, Miju, and their dog were all found dead on a hiking trail near Hite’s Cove in the Sierra National Forest. A family friend had reported them missing Monday evening.
The area around Hite’s Cove was the site of a hard rock gold mining operation in the mid-19th century.
The bodies were transported to the coroner’s office in Mariposa for autopsies and toxicology exams, Mitchell said.
The State Water Resources Control Board said Thursday it was testing waterways in the area for any toxic algae blooms.
The couple were known to be avid hikers. Their friend, Mariposa real estate agent Sidney Radanovich, said Gerrish was a San Francisco-based software designer who, with his wife, “fell in love with the Mariposa area” and bought several homes there, a residence for themselves and rental investments.
“They were such a loving couple. They loved each other quite a bit,” Radanovich told the San Francisco Chronicle. “He loved showing the baby all sorts of things and explaining them to her.”
The sheriff’s office was investigating the deaths along with the California Department of Justice.
Sheriff Jeremy Briese said chaplains and staff were counseling family members.
“My heart breaks for their family,” he said.
The remote area where the bodies were found had no cellphone service, Mitchell said. The hiking trail ran through an area of forest known particularly in springtime to have spectacular wildflower displays.
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Toxic algae bloom considered in death of California family
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[
"Sian Babish",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:19:53+00:00
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2021-08-19 10:22:31
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Our team of experts has selected the best American Girl accessories out of dozens of options. Don't buy American Girl accessories before reading these reviews.
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Some American Girl accessories, such as the radio-controlled vehicles, require batteries. To save money in the long run, buy a set of compatible rechargeable batteries.
BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.
Which American Girl accessories are best?
Besides having over a dozen active dolls in their current collection, American Girl also manufactures a wide variety of accessories, and they’re not just for dolls.
American Girl’s accessory line includes activity kits, doll furniture, mini toys, and doll carriers. Some accessories are designed after significant elements in the doll’s story. Other accessories feature engaging activities, like jewelry making or t-shirt design. No matter which type of American Girl accessory you choose, rest assured you’re purchasing a well-made item that will withstand the test of time.
If you’re wondering which American Girl accessory you should choose, read our buying guide. We’re sharing an overview of popular categories, plus we’re including a few recommendations at the end. Our favorite, the American Girl Ultimate Crafting Kit, comes with more than 1,000 pieces that create nearly a dozen projects.
Considerations when choosing American Girl accessories
Age range
American Girl has broad appeal, though dolls and accessories are usually intended for ages eight and older. While doll clothes and accessories are designed for this age range, some activity kits with small pieces, like beads or art supplies, can be enjoyed for kids ages eight to 15.
Play
American Girl accessories can be separated into two groups: character-specific or general play. Character-specific play refers to playing with American Girl accessories specific to a doll’s story or world. Some kids prefer this type of play, especially if they take pride in collecting the doll’s entire catalog of accessories.
General play refers to playing with any type of American Girl accessory, no matter which dolls kids have. This means that any clothes or accessories from Kendall’s WellieWishers collection can be enjoyed with other WellieWishers dolls, for example.
Popular categories of American Girl accessories
Outfits
Outfits remain the most popular category of American Girl accessories. Outfits include doll clothes as well as outerwear, boots, socks, and even undergarments. Basic outfit sets just come with clothing pieces, though deluxe sets include a few accessories, like hair bows or sunglasses.
Mini toys
American Girl characters lead active lives that include pastimes, like surfing or drawing. For that reason, there’s quite an extensive category for mini toys, which are diminutive accessories inspired by items from the characters’ stories. These include diaries, play money, pinball machines, or plush pets.
Furniture
Because American Girl dolls measure up to 18 inches tall, they don’t come with dollhouses like smaller dolls. Instead, kids can recreate the character’s world through signature furniture like bunk beds, writing desks, or lockers. Doll vehicles are also grouped into this category.
Activity kits
Unlike other American Girl accessories, activity kits exist outside the characters’ stories. These mostly include arts and crafts kits for scrapbooking, jewelry making, or fashion designing. Most projects feature life-size projects that kids can enjoy, but some kits include mini-projects to create doll accessories.
American Girl accessories price
Entry-level American Girl accessories are priced at $20-$50 and include outfit sets and smaller doll accessories. Deluxe outfit sets and larger accessories, including some furniture pieces, cost $50-$150. Larger accessories, such as elaborate wooden furniture, cost $300 and above.
American Girl accessories FAQ
Q. What’s the best way to store doll clothes and other American Girl accessories?
A. Many American Girl doll enthusiasts recommend investing in a doll carrier, also referred to as a portable wardrobe. Not only do these have room to store the doll, they have drawers and cubbies to stow a wide variety of clothes and accessories.
Q. Is it okay to buy third-party accessories for an American Girl doll?
A. If you’re not concerned with collectability, then yes. In fact, third-party companies manufacture furniture, clothes, and other accessories outside the American Girl universe, which means it’s easy to find new, unique accessories.
American Girl accessories we recommend
Best of the best
American Girl Ultimate Crafting Kit
Our take: A well-rounded craft kit that makes jewelry and other tiny treasures for you and your doll.
What we like: Comes with 1,000 pieces and tools including string, beads, crochet needle, and a design guide. Instructions are very user-friendly. Easily makes a dozen creations.
What we dislike: Some projects are involved, so it’s better suited for ages eight and above.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Best bang for your buck
American Girl Crafts Mini Memory Book Scrapbooking Kit
Our take: Budding scrapbookers will appreciate this 266-piece set with plenty of colorful accessories.
What we like: Includes essential scrapbooking pieces like paper, sticker sheets, and adhesive embellishments. Can be used to make a mini memory book or to decorate an existing scrapbook or photo collage.
What we dislike: Scrapbook is doll-sized, so assembly requires some patience.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
American Girl WellieWishers Stargazing Sleeping Bag
Our take: An essential accessory for stargazing in the garden or camping with the doll.
What we like: Well-made sleeping bag with graphic light strings on the cover. Is perfect for a 14.5-inch doll. Cozy for kids to play with.
What we dislike: Fairly expensive.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Sian Babish writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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Best American Girl accessories
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[
"Matthew Daly",
"Associated Press",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:15:53+00:00
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2021-08-19 05:10:14
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GREELEY, Colo. (AP) — “Go West, young man,” Horace Greeley famously urged. The problem for the northern Colorado town that bears the 19th-century newspaper editor’s name: Too many people have heeded his advice. By the tens of thousands newcomers have been streaming into Greeley — so much so that the city and surrounding Weld County […]
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In this Monday, July 26, 2021, photograph, an experimental bore head is shown on the Terry Bison Ranch south of Cheyenne, Wyo. Figures released this month show that population growth continues unabated in the South and West, even as temperatures rise and droughts become more common. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
GREELEY, Colo. (AP) — “Go West, young man,” Horace Greeley famously urged.
The problem for the northern Colorado town that bears the 19th-century newspaper editor’s name: Too many people have heeded his advice.
By the tens of thousands newcomers have been streaming into Greeley — so much so that the city and surrounding Weld County grew by more than 30% from 2010 to 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, making it one of the fastest-growing regions in the country.
And it’s not just Greeley.
Figures released this month show that population growth continues unabated in the South and West, even as temperatures rise and droughts become more common. That in turn has set off a scramble of growing intensity in places like Greeley to find water for the current population, let alone those expected to arrive in coming years.
“Anything we can do to protect our safe water supply is so important,’’ said Dick Maxfield, who has lived in Greeley for nearly 60 years and watched the population nearly quadruple to nearly 110,000, as new arrivals attracted to relatively low housing prices flock to the city 55 miles (85 kilometers) north of Denver and its mix of jobs in energy, health care and agriculture, including a major meat-packing plant.
The dual challenges of population growth and water scarcity are made worse by climate change, said Lisa Dilling, an environmental studies professor at the University of Colorado and director of the Western Water Assessment research program.
“Everybody looks at the population growth and says, ‘Where is the water going to come from?’” Dilling said. “We can still have growth, but we have to make sure we’re thinking ahead. We need to manage the water efficiently and mindfully.″
As a climate change-fueled megadrought engulfs the American West, some communities are going to extremes to protect their water supplies.
In Oakley, Utah, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of Salt Lake City, officials imposed a construction moratorium on new homes that would connect to the town’s overburdened water system.
Thornton, Colorado, meanwhile, is fighting legal challenges as it builds a 72-mile pipeline to bring water from a river near Fort Collins to the suburb north of Denver. Crews have started work in northern Colorado with no assurance it will ever be finished.
“If anything stops that burgeoning growth, it will be the lack of water. It’s a limited resource,″ said Dick Jefferies, leader of a northern Colorado chapter of the conservation group Trout Unlimited.
Water has long been a source of pride for Greeley, which was founded in 1870 at the confluence of two rivers, the Cache la Poudre and South Platte. The New York Tribune, Horace Greeley’s newspaper, played a key role in forming what was intended as a utopian, agrarian colony.
The city established its water rights in 1904 and completed its first water treatment facility near the Poudre River three years later, a system still largely in place.
Like other cities in Colorado’s highly populated Front Range, Greeley gets its water in part from the Colorado River and other rivers that are drying up amid the prolonged drought. This week, federal officials declared the first-ever water shortage on the Colorado, triggering mandatory cuts from a river that serves 40 million people in the West.
In Greeley, the cost of new taps, or connections, to the city’s water supply is rising exponentially. “It’s like bitcoin,” one official jokes — the city believes it has ensured its water supply for decades to come.
The City Council unanimously approved a deal this spring to acquire an aquifer 40 miles (64 kilometers) to the northwest, providing 1.2 million acre-feet of water. That’s enough to meet the city’s needs for generations, while offering storage opportunities for dry years. The water from the Terry Ranch aquifer near the Wyoming border will not become the primary source of drinking water, but will be a backup source in dry years.
In exchange for the aquifer — and a $125 million payment to the city for infrastructure — Greeley will issue the site’s former owner, Wingfoot Water Resources, raw water credits that the firm can sell to developers to connect new homes to the city’s water supply.
“In essence, Greeley is trading future revenue for water supplies today,” Adam Jokerst, deputy director of the city’s Water and Sewer Department, said in an interview.
Opponents call the deal a giveaway to a local investment firm and charge that naturally occurring uranium in the aquifer poses a safety hazard. Save Greeley’s Water, a citizens group opposing the purchase, said uranium levels in the aquifer are significantly above federal safety standards.
The city counters that tests show it can remove uranium and other contaminants to levels well below federal drinking water standards. While he understands the concerns, Jokerst said uranium is commonly found — and removed — in water throughout the West.
“It’s a word that has a lot of context and can be scary,” he said. “But Greeley would never deliver unsafe drinking water to its residents, including any water that had detectable uranium.”
John Gauthiere, a former city water engineer who leads the citizens’ group opposed to the aquifer, is skeptical of the city’s assurances that the water will be safe. “Maybe they’re as wrong as Flint, Michigan,” he said.
Gauthiere also predicted that higher costs will be passed on to residents. “You should never sell water rights that belong to the people,” he said.
Wingfoot Vice President Kevin Ross called the deal “a great answer for the city of Greeley” to combat drought and ensure long-term water supply.
Aimee Hutson, owner of Aunt Helen’s Coffee House in downtown Greeley, favors the deal.
“Why would anybody on the water board do something that was dangerous for the citizens of Greeley?″ she asked. “They live here, too. They’re raising their families here, too.”
But Greeley resident Sandi Cummings said city officials had not done enough testing. “This is so upsetting that we are even considering this,″ she said.
The city had little choice but to pursue the aquifer deal after a long-planned expansion of its existing reservoir was abandoned several years ago, Jokerst and other officials said. The expansion would have required a new dam costing up to $500 million, and federal permits were difficult to obtain, in part because of concerns it would damage the habitat of the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse, which lives in the area and is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
After spending $19 million over more than a decade, “we were basically told we would not be able to get the reservoir (expansion) permitted. It was just not going to be a viable option,″ said Roy Otto, Greeley’s longtime city manager until his retirement this month.
“I believe that providing a secure, safe drinking water source will be the key, not only to Greeley, but to Northern Colorado’s future,” Otto said.
“We know people are going to be coming to Greeley,″ Jokerst said. “We have a supply of land. Now we have water. We have all the ingredients for developers to build here.″
Jeff Lukas, a water and climate analyst in nearby Boulder County, said municipalities rarely use an underground water source so far from city limits. While confident that officials have “done their homework,” Lukas said the project still poses a risk because of the distance from Greeley and possible contaminants in the aquifer, which extends 1,200 feet underground.
“Any aquifer estimate is an inexact science,” Lukas said.
River hydrologist Jeff Crane is skeptical the aquifer will be the long-term solution Greeley expects. Having worked on water projects throughout Colorado, a state that has doubled in population since 1980 and tripled since 1960, he sees the prospects for meeting new water needs diminishing rapidly,
“They’re trying to figure out how to continue to grow on the Front Range without more water,” he said. “Something’s gotta give.”
___
EDITOR’S NOTE — This is the first story in an occasional series looking at the impact of population growth on climate change.
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Booming Colo. town asks, ‘Where will water come from?’
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[
"Matthew Lee",
"Eric Tucker",
"Associated Press",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:17:36+00:00
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2021-08-19 04:05:16
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WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Donald Trump’s administration signed a peace deal with the Taliban in February 2020, he optimistically proclaimed that “we think we’ll be successful in the end.” His secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, asserted that the administration was “seizing the best opportunity for peace in a generation.” Eighteen months later, President Joe […]
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FILE – In this Feb. 29, 2020, file photo, U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, left, and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban group’s top political leader shack hands after signing a peace agreement between Taliban and U.S. officials in Doha, Qatar. President Joe Biden and his national security team say the Trump administration tied their hands when it came to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The argument that President Donald Trump’s February 2020 deal with the Taliban set the stage for the weekend chaos that unfolded in Kabul has some merit. But, it’s far from the full story. (AP Photo/Hussein Sayed, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Donald Trump’s administration signed a peace deal with the Taliban in February 2020, he optimistically proclaimed that “we think we’ll be successful in the end.” His secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, asserted that the administration was “seizing the best opportunity for peace in a generation.”
Eighteen months later, President Joe Biden is pointing to the agreement signed in Doha, Qatar, as he tries to deflect blame for the Taliban overrunning Afghanistan in a blitz. He says it bound him to withdraw U.S. troops, setting the stage for the chaos engulfing the country.
But Biden can go only so far in claiming the agreement boxed him in. It had an escape clause: The U.S. could have withdrawn from the accord if Afghan peace talks failed. They did, but Biden chose to stay in it, although he delayed the complete pullout from May to September.
Chris Miller, acting defense secretary in the final months of the Trump administration, chafed at the idea that Biden was handcuffed by the agreement.
“If he thought the deal was bad, he could have renegotiated. He had plenty of opportunity to do that if he so desired,” Miller, a top Pentagon counterterrorism official at the time the Doha deal was signed, said in an interview.
Renegotiating, though, would have been difficult. Biden would have had little leverage. He, like Trump, wanted U.S. troops out of Afghanistan. Pulling out of the agreement might have forced him to send thousands more back in.
He made that point Monday, saying in a televised address from the White House that he would not commit to sending more American troops to fight for Afghanistan’s future while also harkening back to the Trump deal to suggest that the withdrawal path was predetermined by his predecessor.
“The choice I had to make, as your president, was either to follow through on that agreement or be prepared to go back to fighting the Taliban in the middle of the spring fighting season,” Biden said.
The Taliban takeover, far swifter than officials from either administration had envisioned, has prompted questions from even some Trump-era officials about whether the terms and conditions of the deal — and the decisions that followed after — did enough to protect Afghanistan once the U.S. military pulled out.
The historic deal was always high-wire diplomacy, requiring a degree of trust in the Taliban as a potential peace partner and inked despite skepticism from war-weary Afghans who feared losing authority in any power-sharing agreement.
“The Doha agreement was a very weak agreement, and the U.S. should have gained more concessions from the Taliban,” said Lisa Curtis, an Afghanistan expert who served during the Trump administration as the National Security Council’s senior director for South and Central Asia.
She called it “wishful thinking” to believe that the Taliban might be interested in lasting peace. The resulting agreement, she said, was heavily weighted toward the Taliban, contributed to undermining Afghan President Ashraf Ghani — he fled the country Sunday and is now in the United Arab Emirates — and facilitated the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners without a commensurate concession from the Taliban.
“They wanted U.S. forces out, and they wanted to take over the country militarily, and they believed that they could do that,” Curtis said of the Taliban. “That was just crystal clear.”
The agreement called for the U.S. to bring down its forces to 8,600 from 13,000 over the following three to four months, with the remaining U.S. forces withdrawing in 14 months, or by May 1.
Biden, in an ABC interview that aired Thursday, said he was confronted with that deadline soon after taking office: “Do I say we’re staying? And do you think we would not have to put a hell of a lot more troops?” Even without Trump’s deal, Biden said he “would’ve tried to figure out how to withdraw those troops” and that “there is no good time to leave Afghanistan.”
The agreement stipulated commitments the Taliban were expected to make to prevent terrorism, including obligations to renounce al-Qaida and prevent that group or others from using Afghan soil to plot attacks on the U.S. or its allies. Though the agreement bound the Taliban to halt attacks on U.S. and coalition forces, it did not explicitly require them to expel al-Qaida or to stop attacks on the Afghan military.
The agreement provided significant legitimacy to the Taliban, whose leaders met with Pompeo, the first secretary of state to have such interactions. There were also discussions of them coming to the U.S. to meet with Trump.
Stlll, Trump spoke cautiously about the deal’s prospects for success, warning of military firepower if “bad things happen.” Pompeo similarly said the U.S. was “realistic” and “restrained,” determined to avoid endless wars.
U.S. officials made clear at the time that the agreement was conditions-based and the failure of intra-Afghan peace talks to reach a negotiated settlement would have nullified the requirement to withdraw.
One day before the Doha deal, a top aide to chief U.S. negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad said the agreement was not irreversible, and “there is no obligation for the United States to withdraw troops if the Afghan parties are unable to reach agreement or if the Taliban show bad faith” during negotiations.
Those negotiations were intended to begin within a month of the deal being signed but were delayed amid disputes between the Taliban and the Afghan government over prisoner releases. Amid fits and starts, the negotiations had not produced any outcome by the time Biden announced his withdrawal decision in April. Nor have they done so since.
Miller said it was the “right approach” and necessary to force Ghani into negotiations. He said the Doha deal was always supposed to be “phase one” of the process, with the next part being the U.S. using its leverage to have Ghani negotiate on a power-sharing deal with the Taliban.
“Obviously, he was not jazzed by that, but he was going to do it — or he was going to be removed,” Miller said. “We were going to put some serious pressure on him to make him cut a deal with the Taliban.”
In hindsight, though, said Curtis, the U.S. should not have entered the Doha talks “unless we were prepared to represent the Afghan government’s interests. It was an unfair negotiation, because nobody was looking out for the interests of the Afghan government.”
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Was Biden handcuffed by Trump’s Taliban deal in Doha?
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[
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:02:30+00:00
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2021-08-19 23:49:10
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With the delta variant of COVID-19 overwhelming hospitals across the country, government health officials have recommended a booster shot of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine – but what about Americans who received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine?
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FILE – In this April 8, 2021 file photo, the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is seen at a pop up vaccination site in the Staten Island borough of New York. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is allowing the problem-plagued factory of contract manufacturer Emergent BioSolutions to resume production of COVID-19 vaccine bulk substance to resume, the company said Thursday, July 29. The Baltimore factory was shut down by the FDA in mid-April due to contamination problems that forced the company to trash the equivalent of tens of millions of doses of vaccine it was making under contract for Johnson & Johnson. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
(NEXSTAR) – With the delta variant of COVID-19 overwhelming hospitals across the country, government health officials have recommended a booster shot of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine – but what about Americans who received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine?
The good news is that Health and Human Services officials say there will likely be a J&J booster update in the near future, but it’s not yet clear when that announcement will come.
On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that, starting Sept. 20, the Biden administration plans to offer COVID-19 booster shots for people who were given the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least eight months earlier.
“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,” public health and medical experts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement. “For that reason, we conclude that a booster shot will be needed to maximize vaccine-induced protection and prolong its durability.”
When it comes to the single shot vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, HHS officials said they are still awaiting data because “administration of the J&J vaccine did not begin in the U.S. until March 2021.”
“For those who got the J&J vaccine: We do expect that boosters will be needed in the future and we are expecting more data in the coming weeks that will help us make recommendations for people who got J&J,” said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in a tweet.
CDC data show that more than 14,000,000 Americans have received the J&J COVID-19 vaccine.
Murthy assured Americans that the protection from all of the vaccines against the worst COVID-19 outcomes remains high, but the new data show that protection against mild and moderate cases is decreasing over time because of normal waning immunity and the impact of the delta variant.
“We are concerned that this pattern of decline will continue and eventually lead to less protection against severe illness, hospitalization and death.” Murthy said. “Boosters may help restore that protection.
HHS officials say their top priority remains staying ahead of the “constantly changing” virus as it continues to mutate, creating a fluid situation that may require modifications to the plan.
“We also want to emphasize the ongoing urgency of vaccinating the unvaccinated in the U.S. and around the world,” the statement concludes. “Nearly all the cases of severe disease, hospitalization, and death continue to occur among those not yet vaccinated at all.”
Can I mix vaccines?
The government is encouraging people to stick with the same vaccine provider, but hasn’t mandated it.
The CDC recommends people with compromised immune systems who received either Pfizer or Moderna when they were originally vaccinated should seek an mRNA vaccine for their third dose, and should stop at three doses.
For people who received the J&J vaccine, however, the science is again unclear. “There is not enough data at this time to determine whether immunocompromised people who received the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine also have an improved antibody response following an additional dose of the same vaccine,” the CDC guidance reads.
The federal stance hasn’t stopped local health officials from making their own decisions when it comes to the J&J vaccine.
San Francisco’s Public Health Director Grant Colfax said earlier this month that the city is allowing people who first received the J&J vaccine to be given a booster shot of Pfizer or Moderna as long as they consult with their doctor or health provider first.
A new study also found that mixing an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine like Pfizer with a viral vector vaccine, which is what the J&J shot is, can elicit a strong immunological response.
As J&J recipients in the U.S. wait out the lag on test data, Dr. Murthy reassured all vaccinated Americans that their current protection is strong and that “we are not recommending that everyone go out and get a booster today.”
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J&J booster shot? What to know if you got the one-dose vaccine
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https://www.counton2.com/news/national-news/jj-booster-shot-what-to-know-if-you-got-the-one-dose-vaccine/
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[
"Addison Hoggard",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:19:46+00:00
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2021-08-19 10:23:08
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Bento boxes are an excellent option for packing a healthy lunch to take to the office, school or even on a day hike.
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In Japan, people garnish their bento rice with an umeboshi, or pickled Japanese plum, to help keep it fresh.
Which bento box is best?
Bento boxes are a great option for anyone that likes to pack food at home to take on the go. These handy little lunch boxes originated in Japan and are known for holding a few different types of foods due to their compartmentalized designs.
Bento boxes are an excellent option for packing a healthy lunch to take to the office, school or even on a day hike. The top pick, the Zojirushi Mr Bento Stainless Steel Lunch Jar, is a testament to the versatility of the Japanese bento box.
What to know before you buy a bento box
Differences from lunch boxes
Most American-style lunch boxes are simple in their design and typically only feature one compartment. They rely on the use of containers to keep food separate and safe while on the move.
However, Bento boxes are different in that they come with compartments and dividers built into the box. Bento boxes keep food from mixing in transit, and most will even have compartments for soup.
Bento box styles
While all bento boxes share the universal element of a neat organization, there are a few different types on the market.
The main two types of traditional bento boxes are stackable and single-tier bento boxes. Stackable bento boxes will come with a few different tiers that can be stacked and secured together with a strap. Single-tier bento boxes are usually a bit larger and come with many different compartments and dividers to accommodate different foods.
Modern vs. traditional
Modern bento boxes and traditional bento boxes don’t differ too much and are both great options. Modern bento boxes, like the Zojirushi, offer more features, whereas more traditional bento boxes, like the Keka Japanese Bento Box, excel in their simplicity and functionality.
What to look for in a quality bento box
Material and design
Perhaps the most important thing to consider when purchasing a new bento is the material used. Traditional Japanese bento boxes usually use bamboo or wood, but nowadays, it’s more common to find stainless steel or plastic bento boxes. Stainless steel is easier to clean and won’t stain or hold smells. Plastic is more lightweight but can be tougher to clean.
The designs of bento boxes can range from quirky to traditional to simple. Some bento boxes prioritize form over function, while others are strictly designed to get your meal from point A to B.
Size
Bento boxes can vary in size but bear in mind that they hold smaller portions of food. This makes them an excellent option for anyone watching their portion sizes.
Most bento boxes may not even have enough room to fit a full-sized sandwich as they carry foods such as sushi, rice and onigiri.
Durability
The material of your bento box will also impact its lifespan. Stainless steel bento boxes are by far the most durable, as plastic bento boxes can wear out with washing and repeatedly being heated in the microwave.
How much you can expect to spend on a bento box
Basic bento boxes start at around $10 but expect to pay anywhere from $20-$50 for quality bento boxes that are leak-proof and more durable.
Bento box FAQ
Is my bento box safe to use in the microwave?
A. Most bento boxes, even the plastic ones, are safe to use in the microwave, but always double-check your specific bento box. Some plastic microwave-safe bento boxes may warp if they spend too much time in the microwave.
How long will my bento box keep food fresh?
A. This will depend on many factors, but generally speaking, bento boxes are great for keeping food fresh for around 24 hours. They carry enough food for lunch on the go. If you need to preserve food for longer, they are easy to store in the fridge, thanks to their small design.
What’s the best bento box to buy?
Top bento box
Zojirushi Mr Bento Stainless Steel Lunch Jar
What you need to know: This authentic stackable Japanese bento box comes with a sleek stainless steel design.
What you’ll love: The Zojirushi is great for keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold, thanks to the stainless steel jar. The stackable bowls are all microwave-safe and can hold more significant portions of food.
What you should consider: Be sure to clean the containers thoroughly after every use to avoid any lingering food odors.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top bento box for the money
Bentgo Classic Stackable Bento Box
What you need to know: This two-tiered bento box is stylish and comes in an array of colors. Great for both kids and adults.
What you’ll love: The Bentgo Classic can pack plenty of food and comes with several compartments despite its small size.
What you should consider: You may have some problems with wet food leaking out so take care not to slosh it around too much while on the go.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Bentoheaven Premium Bento Box
What you need to know: This stylish bento box comes with customizable portion dividers and sauce cups to take your sauces and salad dressings on the go.
What you’ll love: The bento comes with a robust seal to help keep food from spilling out. It also comes with flatware and chopsticks.
What you should consider: The elastic strap may stretch out over time.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Addison Hoggard writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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Best bento box
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[
"Don Babwin",
"Associated Press",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:16:31+00:00
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2021-08-19 16:09:28
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CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago police officer who was fatally shot during a routine traffic stop was remembered Thursday for a brief career marked by compassion; for her fellow officers, a one-year-old gunshot victim she sped to a hospital, and the stray dogs she ferried to an animal shelter in her squad car. On the […]
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Chicago police officers salute as the body of slain Chicago police officer Ella French is carried into the St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel for a funeral service Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, in Chicago. French was killed and her partner was seriously wounded during an Aug. 7 traffic stop on the city’s South Side. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago police officer who was fatally shot during a routine traffic stop was remembered Thursday for a brief career marked by compassion; for her fellow officers, a one-year-old gunshot victim she sped to a hospital, and the stray dogs she ferried to an animal shelter in her squad car.
On the city’s South Side, hundreds of police officers in their dress uniforms and other mourners sat in a packed church while an overflow crowd of hundreds more watched the funeral Mass of Officer Ella French on monitors outside the building.
Top department officials, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and former Mayor Richard M. Daley were among the mourners at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine.
“I have two children … they are my heart,” Elizabeth French said to the congregation, recounting the day she first saw the 8-month-old girl, Ella, whom she would adopt. “Today I am here with half of my heart.”
The leader of Chicago’s Roman Catholic Archdiocese, Cardinal Blase Cupich, spoke during the 90-minute service of French’s three years on the police force, and the acts of kindness that punctuated her career. He told of how she saved the baby who was shot — demonstrating the kind of officer she had started to become — and spoke of how she took cinnamon rolls to the station for her fellow officers.
“She took the time to know others, to connect with them,” he said.
Carlos Yanez Sr., a retired Chicago police officer, said he was speaking on behalf of his son, Carlos Yanez, Jr., French’s partner, who remains hospitalized after the shooting that cost him an eye and left two bullets in his brain.
“He made sure that I was here for him. I speak for him,” said Yanez Sr.
He said his son asked that one of his shirts be buried with French. “He said, ‘Dad, where Ella goes … I would like a a little bit of me to be with her.”
Whenever an officer is killed in the line of duty, the funeral is typically attended by representatives from departments across the state and beyond. All in dress uniforms, they stood to attention as French’s casket was taken into and out of the church.
Shadowing the funeral were the facts of the night the 29-year-old French was killed, whenshe and Yanez Jr. pulled over a vehicle for expired plates and a passenger in that vehicle and opened fire on them.
Cupich spoke briefly about the illegal guns that continue to flood the city. Prosecutors contend a man who bought the gun used to shoot French passed it illegally to the suspect in her death.
French is the first member of the department to be killed in the line of duty in nearly three years. She is the fifth female member of the department to die in the line of duty, and the first since 1988 — three years before French was born.
Though she is the first officer to be fatally shot in Chicago this year, she was just one of nearly 40 officers who have been fired upon — 11 of whom have been struck by bullets.
Among the most seriously injured is Yanez. On Thursday, the Chicago Sun-Times quoted reportedthat his sister, Nicole Christina, a doctor who is coordinating his medical team, said her brother had lost an eye. And, while he has some “sensation,” there has been “no movement on left side of his body or right leg,” she said.
The shooting suspect, 21-year-old Monty Morgan, was shot in the abdomen by a third officer. He has been arrested and is charged with first-degree murder of a peace officer and attempted murder.
His brother, 22-year-old Eric Morgan, who prosecutors say was driving the vehicle, was also arrested. He faces gun charges and an obstruction of justice charge. Both were being held in Cook County Jail without bail.
A third man accused of acting as a straw purchaser to buy the gun used in the shooting faces federal gun charges.
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Kind acts accentuated slain Chicago officer’s brief career
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https://www.counton2.com/news/national-news/hundreds-gather-for-funeral-of-slain-chicago-police-officer/
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[
"Denise Lavoie",
"Associated Press",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:16:19+00:00
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2021-08-19 14:02:35
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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — When Sigal Chattah goes to federal court to challenge a school mask mandate issued by the governor of Nevada, she’ll likely be required to wear the very thing she’s arguing against: a mask. That’s because U.S. District Court in Las Vegas and other courts where plaintiffs are demanding their freedoms from […]
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FILE – This July 21, 2012, file photo photo, shows the exterior of the U.S. Courthouse for the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta. A surge of COVID-19 cases sparked by the delta variant is prompting federal courts to impose new restrictions and requirements for mask-wearing and vaccinations. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — When Sigal Chattah goes to federal court to challenge a school mask mandate issued by the governor of Nevada, she’ll likely be required to wear the very thing she’s arguing against: a mask.
That’s because U.S. District Court in Las Vegas and other courts where plaintiffs are demanding their freedoms from masking and COVID-19 vaccinations require everyone to wear masks. Just as in-person hearings and trials resumed at courthouses around the country, a surge of coronavirus cases sparked by the delta variant has prompted some federal courts to impose new restrictions and requirements for mask-wearing and vaccinations.
“The whole situation is very ironic,” said Chattah, a Republican candidate for state attorney general who is representing two parents in a lawsuit that charges a mask mandate ordered by Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak is unconstitutional.
The Democratic governor’s order requires students and school employees in the Las Vegas and Reno areas to wear masks on buses and inside school buildings, regardless of vaccination status. The lawsuit challenging them calls the governor’s orders “draconian” and says they will inflict emotional distress on schoolchildren and their parents.
Other federal courts re-imposing virus restrictions have also seen lawsuits filed or heard cases challenging public health measures.
At the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, an order went into effect Monday requiring everyone who enters the court’s buildings to verify their vaccination status. Fully vaccinated people must sign a statement “attesting to the truthfulness” of their responses, and everyone who enters must wear a mask. Visitors who aren’t fully vaccinated will have to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within the last three days, while those who work there and aren’t fully vaccinated must be tested at least once a week.
This is the same circuit where a three-judge panel ruled in July that Florida-based cruise ships did not have to adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 safety rules.
In Denver, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week began limiting access to its courthouse to fully vaccinated people only. The court’s order requires unvaccinated attorneys who are scheduled to present oral arguments to file a motion to appear via video. Unvaccinated people who want to file documents in person must use a drop box located just inside the front door of the courthouse.
And in Texas, all employees and on-site contractors of the U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Southern District are now required to show proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test results twice a week.
“Our hopes are to just make sure everyone is as safe as possible. We hope that’s the effect of the order,”” said Nathan Ochsner, Clerk of Court.
“The court is obviously very concerned about safety, not just for our employees, but the people we have contact with,” he said.
Several other federal courts have revived old requirements that were relaxed earlier this summer when new cases were plummeting as vaccination rates increased.
In Salt Lake City, everyone who enters U.S. District Court must wear a mask again after the requirement had been dropped for about two months in line with CDC guidance. Court authorities reinstated the mask policy as the delta variant took hold, said Clerk of Court D. Mark Jones.
That’s different from most of the rest of Utah, a conservative state where there’s no statewide mask mandate and even schools are banned from setting their own mandates.
In New Orleans, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated a mask mandate on July 30, requiring everyone — regardless of their vaccination status — to wear a mask in public areas of the courthouse. In Richmond, Virginia, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had planned to resume in-person oral arguments next month, but reversed course and decided to continue holding remote arguments because of the surge.
Many of the revised policies cite the updated guidance issued late last month by CDC as infection rates soared due to the highly contagious delta variant. The CDC said fully vaccinated people should return to wearing masks in indoor public places in communities where the virus is spreading quickly. It also recommended that all teachers, students and staff at schools wear masks, even if they are fully vaccinated, setting off a firestorm of protests and lawsuits as schools across the country prepare to reopen.
The sudden increase in coronavirus cases has also had other ramifications in federal courts. In West Texas, concerns about the surge recently ground many court functions to a halt. On Aug. 9, the chief federal district judge in San Antonio suspended jury trials and grand jury proceedings until Oct. 3, although bench trials, sentencings and some other hearings will continue.
Along with other cases, the move is likely to slow the federal investigation into corruption claims against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The probe into bribery and abuse-of-office allegations is being led by a San Antonio-based federal prosecutor who’s been using a grand jury in the city to issue subpoenas, including for records of renovations made to the Paxton’s million-dollar home in Austin.
Paxton, who is running for re-election in a competitive Republican primary, has broadly denied the allegations from eight of his former top deputies that he used his office to help a wealthy donor.
In New York City, the judge in the federal sex trafficking trial of R&B star R. Kelly has ruled that only the attorneys, jurors and defendant are allowed in the courtroom, while the public, including the press, must watch live video feeds of the proceedings from overflow courtrooms.
In Florida, frequent flyer Lucas Wall is suing the CDC and seven airlines over the federal mask mandate on flights, alleging the requirement left him stranded at his mother’s home in that state during the pandemic. In his lawsuits, he argues that the mandate discriminates against people who cannot wear masks because of medical conditions, such as the anxiety disorder he contends with. Wall, who is representing himself in the lawsuits, said he plans to ask for an exemption from the mask requirement in U.S. District Court in Orlando if he is required to make in-person arguments in court.
“It’s completely preposterous that someone who is suing to overturn a mask mandate and medically can’t wear a mask would be ordered to go into court wearing a mask to argue his case against mask mandates,” Wall said.
___
Associated Press writers Jake Bleiberg in Dallas, Kate Brumback in Atlanta, Lindsay Whitehurst in Salt Lake City and Tom Hays in New York contributed to this report.
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Federal courts impose new COVID-19 restrictions amid surge
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https://www.counton2.com/news/national-news/federal-courts-impose-new-covid-19-restrictions-amid-surge/
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[
"Ethan Swope",
"John Antczak",
"Associated Press",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:16:12+00:00
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2021-08-19 17:42:08
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PLACERVILLE, Calif. (AP) — Dry and windy weather dogged firefighters’ efforts to contain destructive fires that are devouring the bone-dry forests of drought-stricken Northern California on Thursday. An estimated 11,000 firefighters were on the lines of more than a dozen large wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and other buildings, forced thousands of people […]
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Scorched cars line a property as the Cache Fire burns on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, in Clearlake, Calif. The fire destroyed dozens of homes. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
PLACERVILLE, Calif. (AP) — Dry and windy weather dogged firefighters’ efforts to contain destructive fires that are devouring the bone-dry forests of drought-stricken Northern California on Thursday.
An estimated 11,000 firefighters were on the lines of more than a dozen large wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and other buildings, forced thousands of people to flee communities and filled skies with smoke.
The monstrous Dixie Fire, burning since July 13 in the northern Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades, ballooned further to about 1,060 square miles (2,745 square kilometers) and was only 35% contained, authorities said.
The fire, which gutted the town of Greenville two weeks ago, has destroyed more than 1,200 buildings including 649 homes, according to ongoing damage assessments.
About 100 miles (161 kilometers) to the south, there was still no official count of the number of homes destroyed when winds whipped the Caldor Fire into an inferno that roared through the Sierra town of Grizzly Flats this week. Those who viewed the aftermath saw few homes still standing in the community of 1,200 residents.
Fire managers were rushing resources to the fire growing on steep slopes in a forested region southwest of Lake Tahoe. More than 650 firefighters and 13 helicopters were assigned to the blaze, and air tankers from throughout the state were flying fire suppression missions there as conditions allowed, authorities said.
“The hope is with the additional resources and personnel on scene, we can really start to build that box around this fire and start the containment,” said Keith Wade of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Evacuees from the Caldor Fire found refuge in places like the Green Valley Community Church in Placerville, west of the fire, where they set up tents and trailers in a parking lot. Adrian Childress, 7, painted pictures to pass the time and a special tent was set up for people who wished to pray.
In Omo Ranch, close to where the fire started, a bulldozer ripped out trees to build a fire line and stop the blaze from spreading south.
While nearly the entire town evacuated, Thurman Conroy and his wife, Michele, stayed behind to protect their house and their business, Conroy General Store. But they were prepared to flee if the fire gets too close.
“The fire wants us bad because it’s made every attempt it can to get out of that canyon and up this way,” Thurman said. “So they keep beating it down. And it’s just … it’s resilient, it’s stubborn, it won’t go away. That’s all we can do.”
California’s fires were among 104 large, active blazes Thursday in 12 states, mostly in the West, according to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. Those fires combined have scorched nearly 4,000 square miles (10,360 square kilometers).
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.
Drought, heat, low humidity and winds have left California vegetation ready to burn this summer. More than two-dozen new fires erupted Wednesday alone. All but two were quickly contained.
One small but destructive blaze burned through a mobile home park and reduced an estimated 50 homes to ashes in Lake County, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) north of San Francisco. Elsewhere in the northwestern region of the state, two big fires continued to burn in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
Meanwhile, Pacific Gas & Electric said Thursday that it had restored power to nearly 50,000 Northern California customers whose power was shut off Tuesday to prevent new fires from being ignited if electrical lines were damaged during high winds. The utility said it found at least 10 instances of weather-related damage, including four that potentially could have caused fires if the utility hadn’t de-energized power lines.
___
Antczak reported from Los Angeles.
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California wildfires destroy homes; winds hamper containment
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https://www.counton2.com/news/national-news/dozens-of-homes-burn-as-california-wildfire-siege-continues/
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[
"Tom Price",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:19:32+00:00
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2021-08-19 17:29:55
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With a cheap yet powerful motor, the box fan is excellent for solid circulation without spending much money.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.counton2.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Fhome-br%2Fheating-cooling-air-quality-br%2Fbest-small-box-fan%2F.json
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Buying an extension cord can help maneuver the smaller box fan to where it is needed most without being limited by the length of the regular power cord.
Which small box fan is best?
One of the most energy-efficient ways to cool down a room or office is by a fan. Of the many different types of fans on the market today, the box fan remains an enduring classic for all situations. With a cheap yet powerful motor, the box fan is excellent for solid circulation without spending much money. A box fan at a smaller size may be the best choice for those with a more confined area of space. However, finding the right box fan at the right size with the right amount of power can be challenging.
Features to consider before buying a small box fan
Before buying a small box fan, there are several important factors to keep in mind to ensure you buy the best possible product.
Power
One of the most critical factors in buying a small box fan is its power when circulating air. Box fans generally have powerful motors which help the blades push air throughout a room. However, many smaller box fans reduce the power of the motor to make the cutbacks in size.
Noise level
Another key feature of any box fan is the amount of noise it emits. Many box fans can be incredibly noisy, especially at the highest level of power. However, with smaller box fans, in particular, it is easier to find one that is almost virtually silent at lower speed levels. However, it is also important to pay attention to certain box fans that make more noise over time.
Speed settings
While some box fans simply turn on or off, slightly higher-quality ones have multiple speed settings to fit different situations. Most box fans have around three different settings, though many available on the market have anywhere between five and eight. The differences in speed levels can help cool off an entire room on high or just quietly circulate air on low.
Remote control and other features
Remote controls for box fans can help users who are less mobile or simply want to stay put and control the fans’ speed setting and power from anywhere in a room. Additionally, some box fans come with other features such as sleep timers, energy efficiency modes or decreasing fan speed. These additional features can be helpful but do not come standard on most box fans.
Size
When looking for a small box fan, the term can sometimes be relative. Many box fans come in sizes ranging from 16 to 20 inches down to 4 to 5 inches. So, depending on the size preference of what may be small, other box fans may qualify. Knowing what size is needed before purchasing can make a big difference.
The best small box fans
Best of the best small box fan
Vornado 573 Small Flat Panel Air Circulator Fan
What you need to know: This is a great box fan with an adjustable neck to promote the best possible air circulation despite the device’s small size.
What you’ll love: It comes with three different speed settings for the perfect power regardless of the situation. It also comes with a 5-year warranty, so you can resolve any issues with the fan without a hassle.
What you should consider: Without proper cleaning, the fan will become noisy over time, especially on the higher speed setting.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Best bang for your buck small box fan
Comfort Zone CZ9BWT Portable 9-inch 2-Speed Quiet Box Fan
What you need to know: A portable and affordable box fan that comes with two different speed settings for versatile use no matter the situation.
What you’ll love: This is one of the quietest box fans on the market today, making it perfect for nighttime use and other smaller spaces.
What you should consider: The quality of the product is not up to par compared to other fans that cost slightly more money. Many users report issues with durability.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Honorable mentions
BLACK+DECKER Mini Box Fan
What you need to know: This is an affordable and high-quality box fan that provides great air circulation despite just a 9-inch frame.
What you’ll love: An easy-to-use control panel that helps adjust the three different speed settings available on the device. Also still incredibly quiet despite the relative power of the fan.
What you should consider: It can be very difficult to clean with complex instructions needed to do so. Lack of cleaning will result in motor issues down the line and sometimes even a complete breakdown.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Elanket Box Fan
What you need to know: This is a mighty box fan with a solid range on the motor for even slightly larger rooms. The fan also has three different speed settings to fit any situation.
What you’ll love: The fan is incredibly energy efficient to ensure that using it often does not waste power. The low fan setting is also very quiet for easy use at night without being disturbed.
What you should consider: Some users report that the power is not enough for some rooms, especially those with poor ventilation.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Treva 10-Inch Portable Desktop Air Circulation Battery Fan
What you need to know: This is a portable box fan with a sleek design, made with durable materials to ensure no damage during transport.
What you’ll love: It has two different speed settings for better versatility. It also has two different possible power sources making the device run by a battery when not plugged in for outdoor use.
What you should consider: It lacks the same kind of power that many other box fans have, meaning it is better for a smaller setting to circulate air better.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Tom Price writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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www.counton2.com
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Best small box fan
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https://www.counton2.com/reviews/br/home-br/heating-cooling-air-quality-br/best-small-box-fan/
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[
"Sian Babish",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:17:57+00:00
|
2021-08-19 17:28:59
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Short-sleeve shirts are wardrobe essentials that match most bottoms, from shorts to jeans. Check out the best men's big and tall short-sleeve shirts.
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If the short-sleeve shirts you’re replacing still have some life in them, consider donating them to a local charity or shelter.
BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.
Which men’s big and tall short-sleeve shirts are best?
Short-sleeve shirts are wardrobe essentials that match most bottoms, from shorts to jeans. Because they’re versatile and comfortable, it’s easy to see why they’re considered go-to pieces.
There are four main styles of short-sleeve shirts, including tees, polos, button-downs and athletic tops. It’s smart to have more than one of each style so you can create a wealth of looks with just a few pieces. Begin building your new wardrobe with Under Armour Men’s Tech 2.0 Short-Sleeve Shirt, a lightweight athletic top that’s suitable for layering.
What to know before you buy a men’s big and tall short-sleeve shirt
Big and tall sizing
Big and tall sizing ranges from 3XL to 6XL, and many brands now offer extended sizes above 7XL. However, there’s a bit more to big and tall sizing than these sizes.
Big sizes, such as 3X or 4X, have wider cuts across the chest, torso and shoulders. These cuts can be characterized as relaxed or boxy.
Tall sizes, like 3XL or 4XL, feature notably longer hemlines to fit wearers 6 feet, 2 inches and taller. While these pieces are longer, they’re not as widely cut as big sizes.
Big and tall sizes, such as 3XLT or 4XLT, have both wider cuts and longer hemlines.
How to find a correctly fitted short-sleeve shirt
To find the right fit of short-sleeve shirt, there are a few things to consider:
Arms: When you raise your arms in front of you, the sleeves shouldn’t pull against your arms. While they may feel a little snug, they shouldn’t feel too tight or dig into skin.
Shoulders: Shoulder seams should follow your body’s natural shape. If they appear to fall short, the shirt won’t fall right on your torso. Conversely, if they appear too long or loose, the shirt may appear too baggy.
Base layers: Most short-sleeve shirts should have enough room to accommodate a thin base layer, like a T-shirt or undershirt.
What to look for in a quality men’s big and tall short-sleeve shirt
Material
Cotton remains the top material for short-sleeve shirts. It’s breathable, lightweight and easy to wash, but it’s prone to fading or shrinking. Instead, many cotton shirts are now blended with stretch materials, like polyester or spandex, to help retain their color and shape.
Many short-sleeve shirts are made entirely with synthetic materials, including polyester, spandex, nylon and lycra. They’re durable and hold up to heavy wash and wear, but eventually, their elasticity deteriorates.
There are a few bamboo short-sleeve shirts on the market. They’re known for their softness, plus they have natural hypoallergenic and wicking properties. Bamboo shirts are harder to find, and many of these styles are more expensive than cotton or synthetic shirts.
Pockets
Pockets are found on some short-sleeve shirts, but they’re often more decorative than functional. Take a classic T-shirt with a pocket as an example: because it’s fairly soft and lightweight, adding items to the pocket will only weigh down the shirt.
However, pockets on some short-sleeve styles can be useful. Many utility shirts, which have structured designs, can hold lightweight items like cash or earbuds. These pockets may have zipper or Velcro closures to secure items as well.
Wick-away
Wick-away material sweeps moisture and sweat from the body to keep you cool. It’s a sought-after feature in athletic tops, though many polos, T-shirts and button-down styles are now made with wick-away material as well. Many wick-away shirts also have odor-trapping properties.
How much you can expect to spend on a men’s big and tall short-sleeve shirt
Cotton tees and polos cost $30 and below, but the quality is hit or miss the further you dip below $20. Short-sleeve shirts made by well-known brands cost $35-$50. Designer short-sleeve shirts run as high as $85-$100.
Men’s big and tall short-sleeve shirt FAQ
What is an “no-iron” shirt?
A. “No-iron” shirts are made with wrinkle-resistant materials that don’t require ironing or steaming. Most of these are dryer-safe, and tumble dry low gets out the majority of kinks or wrinkles. These styles are considered convenient for travel since they don’t require ironing once you reach your destination.
If I’m sticking to neutral basics, what colors should I get for short-sleeve shirts?
A. At the very least, choose shirts that are black, navy, pale blue, white or gray. Some people feel tan, light pink and olive are neutral colors worth buying. You can also consider shirts with neutral patterns, such as pinstripes or color blocking.
What’s the best men’s big and tall short-sleeve shirt to buy?
Top men’s big and tall short-sleeve shirt
Under Armour Men’s Tech 2.0 Short-Sleeve Shirt
What you need to know: A customer favorite, this lightweight active tee is made with wick-away material.
What you’ll love: Material is soft and cool to the touch, plus it’s machine-washable for easy care. Shoulder seams allow for uninhibited range of motion. Available in dozens of colors.
What you should consider: Some buyers felt the sleeves had a narrow cut.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Kohl’s and Macy’s
Top men’s big and tall short-sleeve shirt for the money
Amazon Essentials by DXL Men’s Big and Tall Cotton Pique Polo Shirt
What you need to know: This classic cotton polo is made for every day or business-casual wear.
What you’ll love: Extra-long hemline with a comfortable, relaxed fit. Ribbed sleeves give the polo a bit of structure. The collar stays flat and retains its shape through wash and wear.
What you should consider: Since it’s 100% cotton, it’s prone to shrinking.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Columbia PFG Bahama II Short-Sleeve Shirt
What you need to know: Made by a much-loved brand, this utility shirt is suitable for active outdoor wear.
What you’ll love: Boxy, spacious cut leaves room for base layers like undershirts or tees. Made with OmniShade material that blocks out UVA and UVB rays. Pockets are actually functional.
What you should consider: Shirt is prone to wrinkling and may require ironing.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Sian Babish writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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www.counton2.com
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Best men’s big and tall short sleeve shirts
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[
"Alex Sanz",
"Tammy Webber",
"Associated Press",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:15:32+00:00
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2021-08-19 18:07:57
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Time was running out for Mohammad Khalid Wardak, a high-profile Afghan national police officer who spent years working alongside the American military. Hunted by the Taliban, he was hiding with his family in Kabul, constantly moving from place to place as they tried — and failed — several times to reach a rendezvous point where […]
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In this photo provided to The Associated Press, Mohammad Khalid Wardak is seen in Afghanistan on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, after the U.S. military and its allies rescued him and his family. Wardak, a high-profile Afghan national police officer, was being hunted by the Taliban because of his years working with the American military. (AP Photo)
Time was running out for Mohammad Khalid Wardak, a high-profile Afghan national police officer who spent years working alongside the American military.
Hunted by the Taliban, he was hiding with his family in Kabul, constantly moving from place to place as they tried — and failed — several times to reach a rendezvous point where they could be rescued.
After at least four attempts in as many days, the family finally was whisked away by helicopter Wednesday in a dramatic rescue — called Operation Promise Kept — carried out under cover of darkness by the U.S. military and its allies, said Robert McCreary, a former congressional chief of staff and White House official under President George W. Bush, who has worked with special forces in Afghanistan.
The rescue of Khalid, as he’s called by friends, came after frantic efforts by his supporters in the U.S. military, who said he was a brother in armswho helped save countless lives and faced certain death if found by the Taliban. They sought help from members of Congress and the Defense and State departments.
“I don’t think people understand the chaos that is reigning right now in the capital, the brutality and the efficient lethality the Taliban are using … to ensure their rise to power as they eliminate their greatest threat, which are these military and special police,” said U.S. Army Special Forces Sgt. Major Chris Green, who worked with Khalid in Afghanistan.
Khalid and his family were unable to get inside the airport where the Taliban controlled the entrances. He was widely known because of his position as police chief in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand province and from television appearances, including one in which he challenged the Taliban to a fight, supporters said.
Green said he was “incredibly happy … elated,” when he learned that Khalid and his family were safe, noting that some of his American rescuers had worked alongside Khalid, which he called “serendipitous.”
McCreary said multiple allies, including the British, helped, and that Khalid, his wife and their four sons, ages 3 to 12, were “safe in an undisclosed location under the protection of the United States.”
Officials said other Afghan partners, including police and military, also deserved to be saved and that more rescue efforts were in progress, but they could not discuss details.
Khalid’s friends said he had no intention of leaving Afghanistan, and planned to stand with his countrymen to defend his homeland after U.S. forces were gone. But the government collapsed with stunning speed, and the president fled the country.
“He fought until he had nothing left to fight with,” Green said. “He was wounded. He was surrounded. His forces were not being resupplied. And echelons above him in the government had already begun to make their exit plan … and striking deals. So people like him who were fighting were left stranded, and they were left without support.”
McCreary said Khalid originally sought protection only for his family while he kept fighting. Khalid and other fighters were completely surrounded by the Taliban last week and their location overrun, McCreary said.
When the Afghan government fell, that’s when “we quickly changed gears to also work on getting him to safety.”
At one point, rescuers lost contact with Khalid for several days, “and we all assumed that that he was killed,” McCreary said. “Just last week, we thought it was over, and then we were just going to … keep working harder to protect his family.”
Khalid’s supporters said it would have been unthinkable to leave him behind after his years of partnership with Americans.
Khalid came to the rescue in March 2013, when a special forces detachment in eastern Afghanistan’s Wardak province suffered an insider attack. Someone dressed in an Afghan National Security Forces uniform opened fire, killing two Americans.
When the outpost was almost simultaneously attacked from the outside, a U.S. commander called on Khalid, who within minutes raced into the valley with a quick-reaction force to defend his American partners.
In 2015, when Khalid lost part of his right leg in a rocket-propelled grenade attack, friends in the U.S. military helped get him medical care and a prosthetic leg outside the country. A month later, he was again leading special police operations in Afghanistan alongside the U.S., Green said.
Along the way, he helped apprehend al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders. He went on to serve as police chief in Ghazni province and then Helmand province, where he was wounded again last month in a mortar attack and continued to direct the resistance from his hospital bed.
Khalid’s family has applied for refugee status in the U.S. based on fear of persecution, but it’s unclear how long that process might take or if they will be approved. Translators, interpreters and others who worked for the U.S. in Afghanistan are eligible to apply for special immigrant visas, but current Afghan military members or police officers are not, supporters said.
His supporters said it was most important to get them out of harm’s way and then figure the rest out later. People who are top Taliban targets because of their work with U.S. forces deserve special consideration, McCreary said.
“No one wants to live with the guilt of turning our backs or not … honoring our promises,” McCreary said. That commitment and the collaboration it took to rescue Khalid “makes you proud to be an American.”
___
Follow Alex Sanz on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/alexsanz
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Afghan officer who fought with US forces rescued from Kabul
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[
"Susan Montoya Bryan",
"Associated Press",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:17:05+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:01:46
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Three Albuquerque police officers were shot and another was injured while responding to a robbery Thursday, leaving law enforcement officials and elected leaders frustrated as New Mexico’s largest city continues to grapple with a record-setting year of deadly violence. Authorities said one of the officers was hit at the base of […]
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Three Albuquerque police officers were shot and another was injured while responding to a robbery Thursday, leaving law enforcement officials and elected leaders frustrated as New Mexico’s largest city continues to grapple with a record-setting year of deadly violence.
Authorities said one of the officers was hit at the base of the neck, just above his bulletproof vest, and was listed in critical condition. One officer was shot in the forearm, and another was saved by his vest when he was struck in the chest by gunfire. The fourth officer was hit in the eye with shrapnel.
While the investigation is ongoing, Police Chief Harold Medina said multiple people were detained and the person believed to have fired at officers was in custody. That suspect was shot but is in stable condition, he said.
Medina called on the criminal justice system to come together to find ways to intervene and curb the violence, citing the “revolving door” that many residents have blamed for persistent crime problems and the latest rash of shootings. He also acknowledged that not all people can be saved.
“People need to want to get help, but some people need to stay in jail,” he said. “And that is something we can’t be afraid of saying. It needs to be said. Our courts need to hear it. Our prosecutors need to hear it, and our community needs to voice their frustration and ensure that we start making the changes to keep bad people in jail.”
He said frustration among law enforcement and the community has been mounting, but Thursday marked a pinnacle.
The officers were responding to reports of a robbery Thursday morning when they were fired upon. Authorities initially closed roads and nearby schools were put on lockdown after the shooting as officers swarmed an area near a coffee shop in a commercial district on the city’s northeast side.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller called it a horrible scene and asked for residents to pull together for the officers and their families.
The city has been struggling with a record number of homicides this year, and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham just this week announced she would reassign more state police officers to New Mexico’s largest city in an effort to help ease the burden.
Republican lawmakers have asked for the Democratic governor to call a special legislative session to address what they have described as a public emergency, saying the state needs tougher criminal statutes and that repeat offenders need to remain behind bars.
Albuquerque officials acknowledged recent tragedies, including a school shooting last week that left a 13-year-old student dead. The police chief also noted it was nearly 16 years ago to the day that the city lost two veteran police officers in a deadly shooting rampage committed by a man with a mental illness.
“It’s a very emotional time,” Medina said.
Lujan Grisham’s office said the governor was horrified by Thursday’s events. Spokeswoman Nora Meyers Sackett said the administration is keenly aware of the public safety issues facing the Albuquerque area and that the additional state police officers began working with local law enforcement Tuesday.
“The governor has committed to substantial public safety investments, including an effort to fund and support 1,000 new police officers statewide over the next decade, in the coming legislative session,” Sackett said, adding Lujan Grisham looks forward to Republican support of initiatives aimed at helping local jurisdictions combat violent crime and keeping repeat violent offenders locked up.
Dr. Steven McLaughlin, an official at University of New Mexico Hospital, was among those who briefed reporters Thursday afternoon. In his two decades working at the hospital, he said he has seen violence in the city escalate. He said the emergency room sees gunshot victims every day.
“Gun violence is a public health emergency that we’re facing,” he said, adding that investments need to be made in research to better understand the causes.
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Police: 3 Albuquerque officers shot responding to robbery
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[
"Eric Tucker",
"Michael Balsamo",
"Colleen Long",
"Michael Biesecker",
"Associated Press",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:17:11+00:00
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2021-08-19 14:17:32
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WASHINGTON (AP) — A North Carolina man who claimed to have a bomb in a pickup truck near the U.S. Capitol surrendered to law enforcement after an hourslong standoff Thursday that prompted a massive police response and the evacuations of government buildings in the area. Authorities were investigating what led the suspect, identified as 49-year-old […]
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FILE – In this Dec. 19, 2013 file photo, the Library of Congress is seen in Washington. Police were investigating a report Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, of a possible explosive device in a pickup truck outside the Library of Congress on Capitol Hill and have evacuated the area around the building, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, FIle)
WASHINGTON (AP) — A North Carolina man who claimed to have a bomb in a pickup truck near the U.S. Capitol surrendered to law enforcement after an hourslong standoff Thursday that prompted a massive police response and the evacuations of government buildings in the area.
Authorities were investigating what led the suspect, identified as 49-year-old Floyd Ray Roseberry, to drive onto the sidewalk outside the Library of Congress, make bomb threats to officers and profess a litany of antigovernment grievances as part of a bizarre episode that he live-streamed for a Facebook audience. Police later searched the vehicle and said they did not find a bomb but did collect possible bomb-making materials.
The standoff was resolved peacefully after roughly five hours of negotiations, ending when Roseberry crawled out of the truck and was taken into police custody. But even in a city with a long history of dramatic law enforcement encounters outside federal landmarks, this episode was notable for its timing — Washington remains on edge eight months after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol — and for the way the suspect harnessed social media to draw attention to his actions in the hours before his arrest.
Authorities who spent hours negotiating with Roseberry — he held up handwritten signs through his driver-side window — were continuing to dig into his background Thursday evening. They did not reveal any details about a motive, and no charges were immediately announced.
Investigators had been speaking with members of Roseberry’s family and learned that his mother had recently died, Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger said. “There were other issues he was dealing with,” the chief said, without providing specific details.
But social media appeared to offer its own clues.
As police continued negotiations, video surfaced of Roseberry on Facebook Live inside the truck, which was stuffed with coins and boxes. He threatened explosions, expressed hostility toward President Joe Biden, profanely warned of a “revolution” and laid bare a series of grievances related to U.S. positions on Afghanistan, health care and the military.
Roseberry’s ex-wife, Crystal Roseberry, said she had seen images of the man in the standoff at the Capitol and confirmed to The Associated Press that it was her ex-husband. She said she had never known him to have explosives, but he was an avid collector of firearms.
Videos posted to Facebook before the page was taken down appear to show Roseberry at a Nov. 14 Washington rally attended by thousands of Trump supporters to protest what they claimed was a stolen election. One video appears to be filmed by Roseberry as he’s marching with a crowd of hundreds of people carrying American flags and Trump flags and shouting “stop the steal.”
Thursday’s incident began around 9:15 a.m. when a truck drove up the sidewalk outside the library. The driver told the responding officer he had a bomb, and he was holding what the officer believed to be a detonator. The truck had no license plates.
Kelsey Campbell, a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison visiting Washington as part of a class trip, said she and another student encountered Roseberry around 9:20 a.m. outside the nearby Supreme Court building. Campbell said he was with his truck, which was parked next to the sidewalk, and was holding a large stack of dollar bills.
“He said, ‘Hey, call the police, tell them to evacuate this street, and I’ll give you all this money,’” Campbell recounted to The AP. “I said, ’No!’ and he threw the money at us and we started running.”
Campbell said she and the other student saw some police officers standing nearby. They told the officers what happened, and the officers then went to confront Roseberry.
The standoff brought the area surrounding the Capitol to a virtual standstill as police emptied buildings and cordoned off streets as a precaution. Congress is in recess this week, but staffers were seen calmly walking out of the area at the direction of authorities.
By Thursday evening, authorities had finished searching the vehicle and determined the area to be safe after not finding an explosive.
The nation’s capital has been tense since the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, when thousands of supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the building as Congress was gathered to certify the results of the presidential election.
A day before the riot at the Capitol, pipe bombs were left at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee in Washington. No one has been arrested yet for placing the bombs.
The RNC, not far from where the truck was parked Thursday, was also evacuated over the threat. A spokesman for the DNC said its headquarters, which is located farther away from the truck’s location, was put under lockdown, but that lockdown has been lifted.
Thursday’s incident marked the third time in as many weeks that federal and military law enforcement authorities had to respond to attacks or possible threats in the Washington area. Officials are also jittery over a planned rally in September.
___
Long reported from New Buffalo, Michigan. Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer in Boston, Tom Foreman Jr. in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Zeke Miller, Nathan Ellgren, Ashraf Khalil and Alex Brandon in Washington contributed to this report.
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Man surrenders after claiming to have bomb near US Capitol
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[
"Collin Binkley",
"Associated Press",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:17:30+00:00
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2021-08-19 20:10:43
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The Biden administration announced Thursday it will automatically erase student loan debt for more than 300,000 Americans with severe disabilities that leave them unable to earn significant incomes. The move will wipe out more than $5.8 billion in debt, according to the Education Department, and it marks the start of a broader overhaul of a […]
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en
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Education Secretary Miguel Cardona speaks to press after a visit to P.S. 5 Port Morris, a Bronx elementary school, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021 in New York. (AP Photo/Brittainy Newman)
The Biden administration announced Thursday it will automatically erase student loan debt for more than 300,000 Americans with severe disabilities that leave them unable to earn significant incomes.
The move will wipe out more than $5.8 billion in debt, according to the Education Department, and it marks the start of a broader overhaul of a program that has been criticized for having overly burdensome rules.
“We’ve heard loud and clear from borrowers with disabilities and advocates about the need for this change and we are excited to follow through on it,” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement.
The federal government offers student debt relief for people who are “totally and permanently disabled” and have limited incomes. But the current rules require them to submit documentation of their disability and undergo a three-year monitoring period to prove they’re earning little pay.
Tens of thousands of people have been dropped from the program and had their loans reinstated simply because they failed to submit proof of their earnings, however, and critics say the complex rules deter some from applying.
Advocates have pressed the Education Department to eliminate the monitoring period entirely and to provide automatic debt relief to people who the Social Security Administration already identifies as permanently disabled.
Under the new action, both demands will be met. Starting in September, the Education Department will start erasing student debt for 323,000 Americans identified in Social Security records as being permanently disabled.
Borrowers will be notified once they have been approved for relief. All of the loans are expected to be discharged by the end of the year.
The department also plans to eliminate the program’s three-year monitoring period, which was previously suspended during the pandemic. That change is expected to be cemented during a federal rulemaking process set to start in October, the agency said.
“This is going to be a smooth process for our borrowers,” Cardona said in a call with reporters. “They’re not going to have to be applying for it or getting bogged down by paperwork.”
Advocates celebrated the change as a victory. Aaron Ament, president of the National Student Legal Defense Network, called it a “life-changing” step.
“This is a huge moment for hundreds of thousands of borrowers with disabilities who can now move on with their lives and won’t be trapped in a cycle of debt,” he said.
Democrats in Congress said it was the right move. Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, said borrowers shouldn’t face paperwork and other administrative hurdles if the federal government already knows they’re eligible for loan forgiveness.
“With this simple and sensible change, more than 320,000 borrowers and their families are being freed from the burden of student loans that they should not have to repay,” Scott said in a statement.
The program has faced scrutiny since 2016, when a federal watchdog agency found that the income reporting process posed an obstacle for borrowers. In 98% of cases in which loans were restored, it was because borrowers did not submit paperwork, not because their earnings were too high, the U.S. Government Accountability Office reported.
The Trump administration started granting automatic loan cancellations to eligible military veterans in 2019, but the move did not apply to hundreds of thousands of other Americans with disabilities.
In March, the Education Department canceled debt for more than 40,000 borrowers whose debt had been restored because of paperwork issues, but it indicated further changes would need to come through a federal rulemaking process.
Cardona announced the change as the White House faces mounting pressure to pursue wider debt forgiveness.
Democrats including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, N.Y., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Mass., have called on Biden to erase $50,000in student debt for all borrowers as a way to jumpstart the economy.
Biden has asked the Education and Justice departments to assess the legality of mass debt cancellation. Cardona said Thursday that those conversations are “still underway.” Meanwhile, he said, his agency is working to improve other debt forgiveness programs that target specific groups of borrowers.
“It’s an effort to show that we are working to improve targeted loan relief and help our borrowers,” he said.
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US to erase student debt for those with severe disabilities
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[
"Lindsey Tanner",
"Associated Press",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:17:18+00:00
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2021-08-19 17:42:00
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The day before he was supposed to start fourth grade, Francisco Rosales was admitted to a Dallas hospital with COVID-19, struggling to breathe, with dangerously low oxygen levels and an uncertain outcome. It wasn’t supposed to be like this, thought his frightened mother, Yessica Gonzalez. Francisco was normally healthy and rambunctious. At 9, he was […]
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.counton2.com%2Fnews%2Fnational-news%2Frecord-delta-wave-hits-kids-raises-fear-as-us-schools-open%2F.json
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This 2021 photo provided by Yessica Gonzalez shows her son, Francisco Rosales, 9, in the intensive care unit at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. The day before he was supposed to start fourth grade, Francisco was admitted to the hospital due to severe COVID-19, struggling to breathe, with dangerously low oxygen levels and an uncertain outcome. (Yessica Gonzalez via AP)
The day before he was supposed to start fourth grade, Francisco Rosales was admitted to a Dallas hospital with COVID-19, struggling to breathe, with dangerously low oxygen levels and an uncertain outcome.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this, thought his frightened mother, Yessica Gonzalez. Francisco was normally healthy and rambunctious. At 9, he was too young to get vaccinated, but most of the family had their shots. She had heard kids rarely got sick from the coronavirus.
But with the highly contagious delta variant spreading across the U.S., children are filling hospital intensive care beds instead of classrooms in record numbers, more even than at the height of the pandemic. Many are too young to get the vaccine, which is available only to those 12 and over.
The surging virus is spreading anxiety and causing turmoil and infighting among parents, administrators and politicians around the U.S., especially in states like Florida and Texas, where Republican governors have barred schools from making youngsters wear masks.
With millions of children returning to classrooms this month, experts say the stakes are unquestionably high.
Very high infection rates in the community “are really causing our children’s hospitals to feel the squeeze,’’ said Dr. Buddy Creech, a Vanderbilt University infectious disease specialist who is a helping lead research on Moderna’s vaccine for children under 12. Creech said those shots probably won’t be available for several months.
“I’m really worried,’’ said Dr. Sonja Rasmussen, a pediatrician and public health expert at the University of Florida. “It’s just so disappointing to see those numbers back up again.”
While pediatric COVID-19 hospitalization rates are lower than those for adults, they have surged in recent weeks, reaching 0.41 per 100,000 children ages 0 to 17, compared with 0.31 per 100,000, the previous high set in mid-January, according to an Aug. 13 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr. Francis Collins, head of the National Institutes of Health, calls the spike in cases among children “very worrisome.”
He noted that over 400 U.S. children have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. “And right now we have almost 2,000 kids in the hospital, many of them in ICU, some of them under the age of 4,’’ Collins told Fox News on Sunday.
Health experts believe adults who have not gotten their shots are contributing to the surge among grownups and children alike. It has been especially bad in places with lower vaccination rates, such as parts of the South.
While it is clear the delta variant is much more contagious than the original version, scientists are not yet able to say with any certainty whether it makes people more severely ill or whether youngsters are especially vulnerable to it.
As experts work to answer those questions, many hospitals are reeling. Those in Texas are among the hardest hit. On Tuesday, they reported 196 children being treated with confirmed COVID-19. That compares with 163 during the previous peak, in December.
At Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, the nation’s largest pediatric hospital, the number of youngsters treated for COVID-19 is at an all-time high, said Dr. Jim Versalovic, interim pediatrician-in-chief. In recent weeks, the vast majority have had delta infections, and most patients 12 and up have not had shots, he said.
“It is spreading like wildfire across our communities,’’ he said.
At times this month, his hospital system has diagnosed 200 children with COVID-19 a day, with about 6% of them needing hospital care. On some days, the number of children in the hospital with COVID-19 has exceeded 45.
Versalovic said he suspects hospitalizations of children are up simply because so many are getting infected, not because the delta variant makes people more seriously ill.
At Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, where Francisco is being treated, the number of patients with COVID-19 climbed from 10 during the week of July 4 to 29 during the week of Aug. 8.
Francisco is improving and expected to recover, but his mother is worried and is considering home-schooling him. The virus “is really dangerous,” she said.
The delta surge is yet another test for the nation’s schools, which are dealing with students who fell behind academically as a result of remote learning or developed mental health problems from the upheaval.
Outbreaks have already occurred at reopened schools in the South that are facing resistance to mask-wearing.
In Texas, some school administrators are mandating masks in defiance of the governor and state Supreme Court. Among them is Michael Hinojosa of the Dallas school system, one of the state’s largest districts.
“This delta variant is different, and the numbers are really significant in the county,’’ he said. “We’re going to continue our mask mandate to keep students safe, to keep parents safe, to keep families safe and most importantly our teachers, who are on those front lines.’’
Although dozens of students and staff have already been sickened by the virus since the Dallas district’s 180 schools began reopening on Aug. 5, the numbers are far lower than when in-person learning resumed in the spring, Hinojosa said.
Knowing the toll the pandemic has taken on children, Hinojosa is determined to keep his schools open.
“We know they’ve been scarred by it,” he said. “That’s why they need to be back with their friends and teachers.’’
In DeSoto, a Dallas suburb, schools are also requiring masks, and Superintendent D’Andre Weaver said there has been no pushback from parents, perhaps, he added, because many are Black and know their community was hit hard earlier in the pandemic. Some considered keeping their children home because of the governor’s opposition to school mask requirements, Weaver said.
As a parent and an administrator, Weaver said the delta surge “is a major concern, it’s a major frustration. It’s a big fear.’’
His own two girls started first and second grade this week, and the first thing he has been asking when he picks them up after school is “How do you feel? Do you have a sore throat?” Weaver said. “I know many parents are in the same boat.’’
While he knows many children suffered during virtual learning last year, Weaver said, ‘’We have no choice but to prepare that as an option.’
___
Follow AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner at @LindseyTanner.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives supportfrom the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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Record delta wave hits kids, raises fear as US schools open
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[
"Chase Laudenslager",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:02:24+00:00
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2021-08-20 01:35:41
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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Roper St. Francis Healthcare (RSFH) on Thursday confirmed that the system is “experiencing a critical staffing and bed shortage,” prompting them to delay some surgeries. Beginning Monday, RSFH will be postponing “some surgeries requiring overnight stays and only allow emergent and urgent overnight stay surgical cases… Outpatient and ambulatory surgeries that […]
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.counton2.com%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fcharleston-county-news%2Froper-healthcare-delaying-some-procedures-due-to-covid-19-surge%2F.json
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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Roper St. Francis Healthcare (RSFH) on Thursday confirmed that the system is “experiencing a critical staffing and bed shortage,” prompting them to delay some surgeries.
Beginning Monday, RSFH will be postponing “some surgeries requiring overnight stays and only allow emergent and urgent overnight stay surgical cases… Outpatient and ambulatory surgeries that do not require overnight stays will proceed as scheduled.”
The change is expected to last through September 10.
RSFH said the decision was made “to ensure continued high-quality care and patient safety.”
Leaders stressed the importance of getting a COVID-19 vaccine, which are available at RSFH Express Care locations.
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Roper Healthcare delaying some procedures due to COVID-19 surge
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[
"Randall Chase",
"Associated Press",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:15:59+00:00
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2021-08-19 22:41:00
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DOVER, Del. (AP) — A bankruptcy judge on Thursday approved a proposal by the Boy Scouts of America to enter into an agreement that includes an $850 million fund to compensate tens of thousands of men who say they were sexually abused as youngsters by Scout leaders and others. But the judge also rejected two […]
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FILE – In this Feb. 18, 2020, file photo, Boy Scouts of America uniforms are displayed in the retail store at the headquarters for the French Creek Council of the Boy Scouts of America in Summit Township, Pa. A bankruptcy judge Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021 approved a proposal by the Boy Scouts of America to enter into an agreement that includes an $850 million fund to compensate tens of thousands of men who say they were sexually abused as youngsters by scout leaders. (Christopher Millette/Erie Times-News via AP, File)
DOVER, Del. (AP) — A bankruptcy judge on Thursday approved a proposal by the Boy Scouts of America to enter into an agreement that includes an $850 million fund to compensate tens of thousands of men who say they were sexually abused as youngsters by Scout leaders and others.
But the judge also rejected two key provisions of the deal, potentially jeopardizing the agreement that the organization had been hoping to use as a springboard to emerge from bankruptcy later this year.
Following three days of testimony and arguments, Judge Laura Selber Silverstein granted the BSA’s request to enter into an agreement involving the national Boy Scouts organization, roughly 250 local Boy Scout councils, and attorneys representing some 70,000 men who say they were sexually abused as youngsters decades ago while engaged in Boy Scout-related activities.
The agreement was opposed by insurers who issued policies to the Boy Scouts and local councils, attorneys representing thousands of other abuse victims, and various church denominations that have sponsored local Boy Scout troops.
It was not immediately clear how Thursday’s ruling will affect the future of the bankruptcy case, given that she rejected two significant provisions in the restructuring support agreement.
“Basically, everybody’s going to have to go back to the drawing board,” said Paul Mones, an attorney representing hundreds of abuse claimants. “I think this is going to cause a reset.”
While ruling that BSA officials exercised proper business judgment as required under the law in entering into the agreement, the judge refused to grant a request that the Boy Scouts be allowed to pay millions in legal fees and expenses of attorneys hired by law firms that represent tens of thousands of abuse claimants.
Silverstein said she had several concerns about the fee request, including whether the ad hoc group called the Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice is duplicating efforts by the official victims committee appointed by the U.S. bankruptcy trustee, and whether the coalition is making a substantial contribution to the case.
The judge also noted that coalition attorneys had emphasized last year that their legal fees would be paid by individual law firms they were representing, and that abuse claimants would not be responsible for those costs.
Silverstein said any payment of legal fees by the Boys Scouts, or by the victims fund, which was also contemplated in the agreement, “comes directly or indirectly out of their clients’ pockets, and indeed the pockets of all abuse victims.”
“Any funds diverted from abuse victims, especially to pay an obligation of their lawyers, needs to be closely examined,” she said.
David Molton, an attorney for the coalition, said the group was pleased that Silverstein approved the agreement. He said it enables the coalition and its partners to procure settlements from insurers and sponsoring organizations that will bring in “additional billions of dollars” to compensate survivors.
Molton did not address Silverstein’s denial of the fee arrangement with the Boy Scouts, which he described at a hearing earlier this week as “part and parcel” of the agreement.
Silverstein also denied the BSA’s request under the agreement for permission to withdraw from an April agreement in which insurance company The Hartford would pay $650 million into the fund for abuse claimants in exchange for being released from any further liability.
Silverstein said the Hartford settlement was a separate issue from the agreement, and that the BSA’s attempt to use the agreement as a vehicle to back out of that deal was improper.
“You can’t just roll up any relief you want and put it in a request to approve an (agreement),” she said. ”… The request to determine debtor’s obligations or, conversely, Hartford’s damages, is not appropriate in this context.”
A spokesperson for The Hartford said the company declined to comment.
Irwin Zalkin, an attorney for abuse claimants who opposed the agreement, said the judge “gutted” key conditions that supporters were hoping to “box her into.”
“In my view the (agreement) has been rendered toothless,” Zalkin said.
The Boy Scouts of America issued a statement describing the ruling as “an important development” in the case. The BSA also indicated that it would be submitting a court filing regarding the timing of a hearing that was scheduled to start Wednesday. The hearing is to determine whether the judge approves a disclosure statement that explains the Boy Scouts’ reorganization plan to creditors. Approval of the disclosure statement is required before ballots can be sent to abuse claimants to vote on a plan.
The Boy Scouts, based in Irving, Texas, sought bankruptcy protection in February 2020 in an effort to halt hundreds of individual lawsuits and create a huge compensation fund for thousands of men who were molested as youngsters by scoutmasters or other leaders. Although the organization was facing 275 lawsuits at the time of the filing, it is now facing some 82,500 sexual abuse claims in the bankruptcy case.
Under the agreement, the Boy Scouts would contribute up to $250 million in cash and property to a fund for victims of child sexual abuse. The local councils, which run day-to-day operations for Boy Scout troops, would contribute $600 million. In addition, the national organization and local councils would transfer their rights to Boy Scout insurance policies to the victims fund. In return, they would be released from future liability for abuse claims.
Opponents of the deal argued that BSA officials failed to fully inform themselves or exercise proper business judgment in entering into the agreement. They noted that the Boy Scouts board of directors never adopted a resolution approving the agreement, and that decision-making authority was delegated to an executive committee and a handful of people on a bankruptcy task force.
“Having reviewed the evidence, I conclude that debtors were sufficiently informed to make this decision,” Silverstein said. “And while a specific (board) resolution would have been preferable, the evidence is clear that debtors approved the transaction.”
“A court is particularly ill-suited to address strategic business decisions such as this one,” the judge added. “Debtors may ultimately may be wrong in their assessment, but that is not the test of business judgment.”
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Boy Scouts get conditional approval of $850M bankruptcy deal
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https://www.counton2.com/news/national-news/boy-scouts-get-conditional-approval-of-850m-bankruptcy-deal/
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[
"Michael Casey",
"Anne D'Innocenzio",
"Associated Press",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:16:52+00:00
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2021-08-19 14:29:05
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NEW YORK (AP) — When Ryan David bought three rental properties back in 2017, he expected the $1,000-a-month he was pocketing after expenses would be regular sources of income well into his retirement years. He also was counting on the rent money from the properties in Dupont, Pennsylvania, to help with the cash flow of […]
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Rental property owner Ryan David poses for a photograph in Pittston, Pa., Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. Landlords say they have suffered financially due to various state, local and federal moratoriums in place since last year, amid the pandemic. David fears the $2,000 he’s owed in back rent will quickly climb to thousands more as a result of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announcing a new moratorium, lasting until Oct. 3. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
NEW YORK (AP) — When Ryan David bought three rental properties back in 2017, he expected the $1,000-a-month he was pocketing after expenses would be regular sources of income well into his retirement years.
He also was counting on the rent money from the properties in Dupont, Pennsylvania, to help with the cash flow of his business buying and selling distressed properties, launched early last year.
But then the pandemic hit and federal and state authorities imposed moratoriums on evictions. The unpaid rent began to mount. Then, just when he thought the worst was over, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a new moratorium, lasting until Oct. 3. A federal judge dismissed a legal challenge to the order last week.
David, the father of a 2 1/2-year-old who is expecting another child, fears the $2,000 he’s owed in back rent will quickly climb to thousands more.
The latest moratorium “was the final gut punch,” said the 39-year-old, adding that he now plans to sell the apartments. “I have had this internal struggle going back and forth. I have lost sleep at night, and I have now come up with a decision to sell and walk away.”
Most evictions for unpaid rent have been halted since the early days of the pandemic and there are now more than 15 million people living in households that owe as much as $20 billion in back rent, according to the Aspen Institute.
A majority of single-family rental home owners have been impacted, according to a survey from the National Rental Home Council, and 50% say they have tenants who have missed rent during the pandemic.
Smaller landlords with fewer than four units, who often don’t have the financing of larger property owners, were hit especially hard, with as many as 58% having tenants behind on rent, according to the National Association of Realtors. More than half of back rent is owed to smaller landlords.
Landlords, big and small, are most angry about the moratoriums, which they consider illegal. Many believe some tenants could have paid rent, if not for the moratorium. And the $47 billion in federal rental assistance that was supposed to make landlords whole has been slow to materialize. By July, only $3 billion of the first tranche of $25 billion had been distributed.
David points to two tenants who received paychecks throughout the pandemic but didn’t pay rent or bother to file for rental assistance. Others singled out delinquent tenants who they claimed still managed to drive a luxury car, get food deliveries or go on vacation.
“Without rent, we’re out of business, ” said Gary Zaremba, who sold 40 of his properties in Ohio due to the moratorium and still has a quarter of his tenants in the remaining 100 buildings struggling to pay rent. He has helped some apply for rental assistance, he said.
“It’s like a restaurant that doesn’t have patrons,” he said. “I don’t get the rent. I can’t pay my maintenance staff. I have to lay them off. I can’t fix the buildings and keep them in good repair. So, that means they are going to get even worse off. I can’t pay my taxes.”
Zaremba, who also owns a handful of properties in New York City, sold some of his single-family homes to home buyers and some multi-family commercial apartment buildings to small investors.
Many landlords are saddled with tens of thousands of dollars in lost rent — money that was meant for retirement, a college fund or for their investors, who themselves had sought a safe investment. They are maxing out credit cards or dipping into savings to pay property taxes, staff salaries, insurance, water bills and maintenance.
“I keep thinking to myself, when does my family get paid?” said Matthew Haines, who owns 253 units with his wife in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and is owed more than $300,000 in back rent. He has referred $250,000 of that to collections.
The couple put in $50,000 of their own money to avoid laying off their seven full-time and three part-time employees. Haines is also doing repairs like fixing an air conditioning unit or changing a pool light himself to save money. Their investors, retirees who typically get an annual return of 7% to 9%, got nothing last year on two multifamily apartments and 3% on a third one because of unpaid rent.
“We jumped through hoops to help our residents who were struggling. We have not evicted a single person trying to work with us, even though we have people who owe us seven, eight, nine months of rent,” he said. “We are trying to do the right thing but it’s becoming impossible.”
In upstate New York, Michael Reid sold three of his houses to stem losses — after paying some delinquent tenants thousands of dollars to leave. Already out more than $100,000 in back rent on 13 of his 31 units and more than $20,000 in unpaid water bills, Reid took out a $90,000 home equity loan on his house so he could pay property taxes and other bills. On Tuesday, he finally received $9,000 in federal rental assistance, a fraction of what he’s owed.
“I’ve lost an incredible amount of money on top of the rent owed,” said Reid, who also works as a mortgage loan officer, referring to his delinquent tenants in Binghamton and Endicott, New York. “Thank God, my day job pays pretty well.”
Some owners are taking advantage of a red-hot housing market to sell their units to deep-pocketed investors willing to wait out the moratorium or to families who plan to live in them. Buyers are increasingly out-of-town investors or equity funds, whom critics fear will renovate the properties and market them at much higher prices.
“A lot of landlords are disgusted. They are selling at losses. They are getting out period,” Reid said of the dozens of investors he talks with.
Even those sticking with the property business say the moratorium has forced them to change their operations.
Some are leaving apartments vacant for months at a time, either because they lack the money to renovate or fear being stuck with nonpaying tenants. Some aren’t buying any new properties as long as the moratorium is in place; others will only buy in wealthier neighborhoods.
Still others are bolstering their screening process and giving extra scrutiny to someone who was unemployed for long stretches during the pandemic or saddled their previous landlord with months of back rent.
“If somebody stiffed their previous landlord out of 12, 15 or 18 months rent, I don’t want to rent to them,” Reid said.
This could result in fewer places to live for low-income tenants facing eviction when the moratorium lifts.
“It makes it worse for everyone. It’s worse for tenants, in particular, because we are going to lose affordable housing,” said Stacey Johnson-Cosby, who with her husband owns 21 units in the Kansas City, Missouri, area.
“The investors are going to come. They are going buy the property, put money into it, renovate it and rent it at a higher amount.”
Rick Martin anguished over just that before selling two of his five buildings in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston. Before that the 62-year-old left most of them vacant due to the moratorium, depriving him of thousands of dollars in rent.
“The minute they enacted the moratorium, that trigged my decision to sell the properties,” Martin said. “I did not want someone moving in whom I could never get rid of if they didn’t pay rent. That would make the financial situation worse.”
Martin said he was torn about the decision to sell to investors. One has turned a building into condos. Another has already doubled the rent on a three-family building.
“Honestly it’s a very difficult decision,” he said. “I want the small property owners to flourish and grow. But because of this moratorium, we are having everything cut out from beneath us.”
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Landlords look for an exit amid federal eviction moratorium
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https://www.counton2.com/news/national-news/landlords-look-for-an-exit-amid-federal-eviction-moratorium/
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[
"Ryan Dempsey",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:19:24+00:00
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2021-08-19 10:24:10
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Setting up your dorm room requires planning ahead so you aren’t left scrambling when school starts. For a few dorm room ideas for guys, keep reading.
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Every dormitory has its own personality and culture. You want to do your homework ahead of time to make sure you find a dorm that’s the right fit for you.
Boys’ dorm room ideas
Whether you’re moving out of the house for the first year of college or returning for a senior year on campus, setting up the dorm room is something that requires planning ahead so you aren’t left scrambling when school starts.
Dorm room ideas for guys checklist
Dorm-room furniture
Every dorm room comes with a desk, but it might be in your best interest to upgrade and bring your own more versatile desk that better suits your needs.
You might be there to study, but you will inevitably want a television for downtime. And given all of your electronics, you can never have enough power strips, so why not splurge and get a power strip tower.
Organization
Moving in and out of your college dorm will be hectic, so get your supplies ahead of time. They tend to sell out when you need them most, so make sure you stock up on moving bags.
College supplies
Being out on your own for the first time can be fun and exciting, but don’t forget why you’re there. They always seem to find a way to disappear throughout the year, but you will always need notebooks and pens.
A quality backpack that can hold your laptop is another worthwhile purchase.
While you’re at it, getting a new laptop wouldn’t hurt either. If you want more ideas, check out this laptop buying guide.
The best dorm-room storage
Rhino Trunk and Case Large Rhino Armor Trunk with Removable Wheels
This multipurpose trunk is perfect for your dorm room because it allows you to transport your items, lock up personal belongings, and make an excellent coffee table. It’s extra strong and durable and a very stylish statement piece for a dorm room.
Where to buy: Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond
Simply Essential 9-Cube Organizer
You can use this stackable organizer in many ways to fit a dorm room and hold all the essential items that a college student needs. Made with an anti-tip kit to secure it to the wall for safety, the easy-to-clean particleboard makes this perfect for any guy’s dorm room.
Where to buy: Bed Bath & Beyond
Squared Away Arrow Weave Bedside Caddy in Grey
Keep every gadget within arm’s reach using this bedside caddy. The internal storage pouches can fit books, notebooks, electronics and more, while the built-in patch will allow him to store a power strip to keep all of the electronics charged.
Where to buy: Bed Bath & Beyond
Shower Caddy Bag Organizer
Make sure you have everything you need when heading to the communal bathroom with this shower caddy organizer. It’s made from top-quality mesh and has a durable handle so that it can last all 4 years of school. It’s quick to dry and completely rust-proof, so you won’t have to worry about any lingering smells.
Where to buy: Amazon
The best dorm-room cleaning kit
Keep It Clean
When you don’t have a lot of money, the last thing you want to buy are cleaning products, so you might as well get all of the must-haves in one shot. This cleaning kit comes with an all-purpose cleaning solution, dust cloth, brushes, and sponges.
Where to buy: Bed Bath & Beyond
Dyson V8 Motorhead Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
An easy-to-use lightweight vacuum created for everyday use is just what every college kid needs. This vacuum is perfect for any dorm room as it can deep clean hardwood and carpet while easily converting to a handheld vacuum for difficult-to-reach crevices and even the car.
Where to buy: Amazon
The best dorm-room bedding
Therapedic Comfort 2-Inch Memory Foam Twin XL Mattress Topper
Sleep is wildly crucial for a busy college student, and this comfort mattress topper that adjusts to the body can help ensure a good night’s sleep. The Active Air Technology will help wick away moisture and make for a cool night.
Where to buy: Bed Bath & Beyond
Keeco Garment Washed Solid 2-Piece Twin/Twin XL Duvet Cover Set
Make your dorm room a comfortable and relaxing space to unwind after a long day studying, with a 180-thread-count duvet cover and pillow sham set. This machine-washable set is easy to launder, ultra-soft and adds a simple and modern aesthetic to the dorm room.
Where to buy: Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond
Simply Essential Heathered Cotton Jersey Twin XL Sheet Set
There’s nothing better than cuddling up in your favorite t-shirt, so why not spend every night wrapped up in one. This soft jersey cotton fitted sheet will perfectly fit the twin-size mattresses in the dorm room. It also comes with a flat sheet and a standard-size pillow sham.
Where to buy: Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond
The best dorm-room essentials
IIQ Desk Lamps for Home Office
This minimalist, modern and low-energy-consumption LED light will remind you to plug in or charge all of your tech accessories every time you turn it on. This lamp can charge multiple devices simultaneously and includes a USB charger and a type-c charger with fast-charging capabilities for any Qi-enabled phone.
Where to buy: Amazon
DormDoc 125 Piece Emergency First Aid Kit for College Students
If you’re a bit accident-prone, this 125-piece first aid kit allows you to head off to college prepared with the same TLC you get at home. This kit includes six over-the-counter medications, bandages and color-coordinated creams, making them easy to use and dispense.
Where to buy: Amazon
Danby DAR044A6MDB-6 4.4 Cu.Ft. Mini Fridge
College guys are always hungry, and this mini fridge will allow you to remain fully stocked with all of your favorite snacks and drinks. An energy star rating helps keep the cost down, while the retro design makes this item the coolest-looking fridge in the dorms.
Where to buy: Amazon
nuLOOM Aisha Buffalo Plaid Gray 5 ft. x 8 ft. Area Rug
This stylish natural rug can handle heavy-duty traffic areas, such as a guy’s dorm room. This versatile rug is ideal to spice up a minimalistic room while protecting the floor from any potential damage you may accidentally cause.
Where to buy: Amazon and Home Depot
Vornado 5350 Compact Whole Room Air Circulator Table Fan in Black
Keep the dorm room cool with a portable and tiltable three-speed fan that moves air up to 75 feet. This fan ranges from light and quiet to powerful while creating circulation throughout the whole room, so you and your roommates can stay cool when the room gets stuffy.
Where to buy: Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond
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Ryan Dempsey writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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Dorm room ideas for guys
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[
"Kevin Freking",
"Associated Press",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:16:05+00:00
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2021-08-19 04:10:54
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic-led congressional committees are vowing to press President Joe Biden’s administration on what went wrong as the Taliban swept to power in Afghanistan and the United States left scores of Americans and thousands who helped them over the years in grave danger. The anger from members of both parties is palpable and […]
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FILE – In this June 15, 2021, file photo Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., listens as Vice President Kamala Harris speaks about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) anniversary in Harris’ ceremonial office on the White House complex in Washington. Democratic-led congressional committees are vowing to press President Joe Biden’s administration on what went wrong as the Taliban swept to power in Afghanistan. Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said lawmakers will investigate what he described as the “Biden administration’s flawed execution of the U.S. withdrawal.” (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic-led congressional committees are vowing to press President Joe Biden’s administration on what went wrong as the Taliban swept to power in Afghanistan and the United States left scores of Americans and thousands who helped them over the years in grave danger.
The anger from members of both parties is palpable and will test an administration seeking to notch signature domestic policy achievements on infrastructure, health and social programs before next year’s midterm election. Several hearings are likely this summer and fall, plunging Biden’s national security team into a bipartisan cross-examination that will be unlike anything they’ve faced during the president’s first year in office.
Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said lawmakers will investigate what he described as the “Biden administration’s flawed execution of the U.S. withdrawal.” He said President Donald Trump’s actions will also be part of the review, citing that administration’s “flawed negotiations” with the Taliban, which led to the U.S. and the Taliban signing a peace agreement in February 2020 to end America’s longest war.
“The Committee will seek a full accounting for these shortcomings as well as assess why the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces collapsed so quickly,” Menendez said in a statement.
He noted that Congress was told repeatedly the Afghan forces were up to the task of securing the country. “The American and Afghan people clearly have not been told the truth” and deserve answers, he said.
Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he has invited Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to testify. A hearing could take place as soon as next week.
“The situation in Afghanistan is rapidly changing and it is imperative that the administration provide the American people and Congress transparency about its Afghanistan strategy,” Meeks said.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he would work with other committees to ask tough questions about “why we weren’t better prepared for a worst-case scenario.”
“We owe those answers to the American people and to all those who served and sacrificed so much,” Warner said.
Images of panicked Afghans clinging to a departing U.S. military jet at the Kabul airport reinforced the fears that many lawmakers were voicing in recent months as they urged the administration to streamline the process for getting interpreters and others who had helped the United States out of the country.
Lawmakers and their staffs are now fielding calls from veterans and families of those individuals stranded in Afghanistan and trying to get out. One congressional aide, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said they had forwarded nearly 50 names to the State Department for transport out of the country — mostly interpreters, but also their family members and 10 journalists.
A group of 47 lawmakers wrote the administration Wednesday seeking more guidance on evacuation plans. They said their offices were working around the clock to help those trying to get out, “but our staff cannot adequately do this without a clear understanding of the process and plan currently underway.” The group, led by Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., called for a classified briefing if necessary.
“It is this Administration’s moral obligation to leverage all available resources to help as many people as possible to safety in the United States. There is no time to waste,” the lawmakers wrote.
The top congressional Republicans, Rep. Kevin McCarthy and Sen. Mitch McConnell, asked Biden on Wednesday for a classified briefing with the “gang of eight” — the top Democrats and Republicans on the House and Senate intelligence committees as well as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, McCarthy and McConnell.
McCarthy and McConnell said they want a briefing on the number of Americans still in Afghanistan and the plans to evacuate those outside Kabul. Their letter prompted Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill to tweet that she had already requested such a meeting. He also said House members will receive an unclassified telephone briefing Friday and an in-person briefing Tuesday.
The Trump administration agreed late in its term to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan in May 2021, with the president saying last year, “Now it’s time for somebody else to do that work.” But Republicans are intent on reminding Americans that it was Biden who was in charge when the Taliban took over.
“The world is watching as one of the greatest foreign policy failures in American history plays out,” the lead Republicans on three committees with jurisdiction over Afghanistan-related issues said in a letter to Biden.
“Due to your failure to adequately plan, there are now more than twice the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan than when you took office,” Reps. Michael McCaul of Texas, Mike Rogers of Alabama and Devin Nunes of California wrote.
The GOP lawmakers questioned how long the Hamid Karzai International Airport will remain under American control for evacuations and why the administration failed to adjust the withdrawal plans when the Afghan government’s instability became apparent. They also pressed for answers on how Biden plans to dismantle terror groups in Afghanistan and prevent another Sept. 11-style attack on the U.S.
Veterans in Congress from both parties are livid with how the withdrawal has played out. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., who flew missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, said it’s up to Congress to get accountability from the administration and ensure the necessary resources to process visas for Afghan interpreters and others who worked with American forces.
“What we’re seeing is not only do they not even have the chance to get out, it’s so chaotic, many of them are caught in Taliban lines already and losing their lives,” Kinzinger said. “It’s a sad, sad moment.”
Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters the administration did dramatically accelerate the process for issuing visas to interpreters and others and provided a substantial number to them and their families. He defended the decision not to evacuate more people earlier.
“The Afghan government and its supporters, including many of the people now seeking to leave, made a passionate case that we should not conduct a mass evacuation lest we trigger a loss of confidence in the government,” Sullivan said. “Now, our signaling support for the government obviously did not save the government, but this was a considered judgment.”
Sullivan added that when a country concludes 20 years of military action in a civil war in another country, “you have to make a lot of hard calls, none with clean outcomes. What you can do is plan for all contingencies. We did that.”
___
Associated Press writer Padmananda Rama contributed to this report.
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Democratic-led committees vow investigations on Afghanistan
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[
"Collette Bliss",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:18:57+00:00
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2021-08-19 17:27:24
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Our team of experts has selected the best Nintendo consoles out of hundreds of models. Don't buy a Nintendo console before reading these reviews.
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The Nintendo Switch doesn’t come with a carrying case, so if you plan to travel with it, consider purchasing a case. You can find small cases that only hold the console itself, or larger cases designed to fit the dock, charger and controllers as well.
Which Nintendo console is best?
Mario, Donkey Kong, Zelda and Kirby are just a few of the beloved character franchises that Nintendo has been bringing into our homes for years. A creative company that constantly pushes the boundaries of the gaming industry, Nintendo has put out a multitude of consoles over the years that provide us with a bountiful variety of gaming experiences. With so many Nintendo consoles on the market, it can be tricky to find the best one for you and your family.
Read along for a compilation of the things to know about Nintendo consoles and some top console recommendations for all your gaming needs.
What to know before you buy a Nintendo console
Nintendo
Innovative systems: From the very first color TV game to NES, Game Boy, Wii, DS, GameCube and now the Switch, Nintendo has been consistently transforming itself and putting out new system models since the late 1970s. Most gaming console companies improve upon specific features like graphics quality and speed with each new iteration of their consoles, but Nintendo releases new ways of console gaming with nearly every model they put out.
Exclusive games: “Mario Kart” matches being ruined by bananas and blue shells and pitting Donkey Kong and Link against each other for the title in “Super Smash Bros.” are exciting experiences exclusive to Nintendo gaming. The “Super Mario Bros.” series, a classic side-scrolling platformer, has expanded for a variety of adventure styles. “The Legend of Zelda” games follow Link saving the land of Hyrule from Ganon in a conglomerate adventure with hours of gameplay. These characters and games are exclusive to Nintendo, making them a standout console company.
Community focus: While other console companies tend to prioritize open world role-playing games and first-person shooters, Nintendo consoles place more emphasis on family and community-oriented gaming. The Wii, for example, was groundbreaking in its time as a way for families to enjoy playing games together in a more active way. With the introduction of the Nintendo Switch, we see for the first time the opportunity for eight-player games to be part of the normal cycle of gaming. These features demonstrate Nintendo’s emphasis on group rather than solo gaming.
Handheld vs. classic Nintendo consoles
Prior to the introduction of the Switch, handheld vs. traditional consoles was the most straightforward distinction for categorizing Nintendo consoles.
Handheld Nintendo consoles
Game & Watch was the first handheld Nintendo console and was replaced by the Game Boy, which was the first handheld console with an interchangeable cartridge system. The Game Boy gradually improved to the Game Boy Advance, and then the Nintendo DS and 3DS. Overall, Nintendo’s handheld consoles are designed to provide on-the-go fun wherever your journey takes you.
Classic Nintendo consoles
Classic or traditional consoles are ones designed to be hooked up to a television. The Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES, was the first, followed by the Super version, or SNES. Nintendo 64 came out in 1996 and was the first home console to have four controller ports. Then came the GameCube as the first Nintendo console to use disc games. The Wii and subsequent Wii U consoles revolutionized Nintendo gaming with wireless controllers and mobility-oriented games for active family fun.
Nintendo Switch
Truly the best of both worlds, the Nintendo Switch was a mind-blowing concept when it was released in 2017. It features a portable console with a screen that can be docked to display on a television. The modular controllers, called Joy-Cons, can attach to the console for portable use or can be used separately to accommodate group play. The whole system also packs up easily, making it a great console to bring to parties or friends’ houses. For many Nintendo fans, it’s hard to imagine a gaming innovation that can top the Switch.
How much you can expect to spend on a Nintendo console
Generally, the price depends on how new your Nintendo console is. On average, you can spend $100-$300 for a Nintendo console, but you’ll find handheld consoles like the GameBoy and 3DS for less than $80. As the newest system, the Switch is the most expensive at around $300, while Switch Lite and Wii systems are sold for $100-$200.
Nintendo console FAQ
Can I play Wii games on the Nintendo Switch?
A. The simple answer is no. The Switch uses cartridges, so it cannot play any disc games. The Wii U, however, is backwards-compatible with both Wii and Gamecube games.
My Joy-Cons are drifting. What can I do?
A. Joy-Cons, the controllers for the Switch, have a problem with drift over time, which means that your controller will think you’re pressing a button or going in a direction without you actually initiating that command. There are some DIY fixes out there, but Nintendo has acknowledged the issue and will repair drifting Joy-Cons for free.
What’s the best Nintendo console to buy?
Top Nintendo console
Nintendo Switch with Blue and Red Joy-Con
What you need to know: The most innovative console from Nintendo, the Switch can do it all. Whether you want one console for your home or you’re a hardcore gamer, the Switch is the ultimate go-to Nintendo console.
What you’ll love: The system doubles as a handheld console and a traditional console so you can hook it up to your TV or take it with you anywhere. It has a massive collection of games that can be downloaded or bought in cartridge form.
What you should consider: Controllers are pricey.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Nintendo console for the money
Nintendo Switch Lite
What you need to know: All the quality, portability and games that you get with the regular Switch, but at a budget-friendly price. Ideal for solo gamers.
What you’ll love: Affordable and lightweight with integrated controls, the Switch Lite plays all regular Switch games and can be played online with others. Available in a variety of unique colors.
What you should consider: Can’t be played on a TV, so if you’re wanting the group play and at-home play of a traditional console, the regular Switch is better.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Nintendo NES Classic Edition
What you need to know: A reboot of Nintendo’s original system, retro gamers will love this trip down memory lane. Not all games have aged well, but it’s great for nostalgia.
What you’ll love: 30 games in one. Modern updates like HDMI make this blast from the past easier to set up, and the variety of included games is well worth the value.
What you should consider: Not a lot of upgrades for the price.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Collette Bliss writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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Best Nintendo consoles
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[
"Lauren Corona",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:20:00+00:00
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2021-08-19 12:58:02
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Our team of experts has selected the best dog dental supplements out of hundreds of options. Don't buy dog dental supplements before reading these reviews.
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Canine gum disease is reversible with proper care, so if you notice gum issues, step up your dog’s dental health routine and consult your vet in case they need a cleaning.
Which dog dental supplement is best?
You might brush your teeth morning and night, floss and rinse with mouthwash, but are you remembering your canine companion’s dental health? Dog dental supplements play a part in reducing plaque and tartar that can lead to gum disease and can help keep your pup’s mouth healthy.
The question is, which dog dental supplement is up to the task? VetriScience Laboratories Perio Support Dental Health Powder is an excellent choice for most dogs, as it’s palatable and easy to mix with food.
What to know before you buy a dog dental supplement
Dental supplement type
The majority of dog dental supplements come in powder form. These can be mixed in with food so they’re easy to administer to your dog. Supplements in tablet form can be just as effective but may be harder to get your dog to consume. You can also find liquid additives that are either mixed with food or added to water.
Those added to water are generally tasteless or flavored to make them palatable, but they often aren’t as effective as other types of supplements and may simply serve to cover bad breath rather than resolving dental issues. Although they aren’t really supplements, there are also dog dental chews and other dental treats that you can buy.
Active ingredients
The active ingredients in dog dental supplements are what make them work. These ingredients vary depending on the supplement you choose, and some are more effective than others. Kelp is a common ingredient as it contains a beneficial bacteria, Bacillus licheniformis, that breaks down the bacterial biofilm on teeth that turns into plaque.
Other active ingredients include various enzymes that support dental health, fragaria from strawberries that softens existing plaque and prevents new buildup and minerals called zeolites that aid in stopping new plaque deposits from sticking to the teeth.
What to look for in a quality dog dental supplement
VOHC approval
The Veterinary Oral Health Council puts its seal of approval on products that prevent plaque and tartar buildup on dogs. To be awarded VOHC approval, products must meet a set of predetermined standards, so its seal of approval is a good sign that the product does what it says it does.
All-natural
If you’re concerned about artificial additives and controversial chemicals in dog dental supplements, you’ll be pleased to know that you can find some all-natural formulas.
Homeopathic
Avoid any dog dental supplements labeled as homeopathic. Herbal remedies contain measurable quantities of herbs that may have therapeutic effects, while the ingredients in homeopathic remedies may be so highly diluted in water that they’re no longer detectable.
How much you can expect to spend on dog dental supplements
Most dog dental supplements cost $10-$40, depending on factors such as the supplement type and package size.
Dog dental supplement FAQ
Do I still need to brush my dog’s teeth if I give them a dog dental supplement?
A. Dog dental supplements are just one weapon in the war against tooth and gum problems in dogs. Although these supplements can reduce plaque and improve dental health, they aren’t a substitute for brushing. If you can brush your dog’s teeth, you should do so in addition to using supplements. If your dog simply won’t let you brush their teeth, you can use dental chews and similar, plus supplements, but this isn’t as effective as brushing.
Can you reverse tooth decay in dogs?
A. No, once a dog’s teeth start to decay, there’s no way to reverse it and the dog in question will likely eventually need to have the offending teeth removed. Luckily, tooth decay isn’t all that common in dogs due to the shape of their teeth and their largely sugar-free diet. The majority of dental issues in dogs are caused by gum disease. If you don’t care for your dog’s teeth, plaque and tartar build up on the teeth, getting under the gumline and causing inflamed gums. Eventually, these gum issues can lead to dental abscesses and tooth loss, which is painful and unpleasant for dogs and can contribute to further health issues.
What’s the best dog dental supplement to buy?
Top dog dental supplement
VetriScience Laboratories Perio Support Dental Health Powder
What you need to know: This palatable powder dental supplement is great for dogs who are picky eaters.
What you’ll love: Contains probiotics to disrupt bad bacteria in the mouth and zeolites to help prevent plaque from sticking to the teeth. Made in the USA.
What you should consider: Some users find it doesn’t improve their dogs’ bad breath.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top dog dental supplement for the money
Animal Essentials SeaDent for Dogs
What you need to know: An affordable kelp-based dental supplement that breaks down biofilm that leads to plaque.
What you’ll love: Fights both plaque and bacteria for better dental health. Works under the gumline. Contains naturally-occurring vitamins and minerals.
What you should consider: Contains added enzymes and preservatives that shouldn’t be necessary in kelp supplements.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Chewy
Worth checking out
ProDen PlaqueOff Powder
What you need to know: A supplement made from 100% kelp that’s great for dog owners who want to stick to natural products.
What you’ll love: Disrupts biofilm to help keep new plaque from forming as well as softening existing tartar. Easy to mix with food.
What you should consider: Some dogs don’t like the taste.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Chewy
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Lauren Corona writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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Best dog dental supplements
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https://www.counton2.com/reviews/br/pets-br/dog-health-br/best-dog-dental-supplements/
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[
"Addison Hoggard",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:18:38+00:00
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2021-08-19 10:22:49
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While it seems like privacy could be an issue with a 10-person tent, many models feature separate sleeping compartments. Check out the the best 10-person tent.
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Once you get your 10-person tent, try setting it up at home before you head out to the campground to check for defects and to practice the set-up process.
Which 10-person tent is best?
When it comes to camping with a group, a 10-person tent is the best option. There is no need to worry about setting up a bunch of separate tents when you can save time by just setting up one that’s big enough to accommodate everyone in the group. These tents are especially great for family outings.
While it seems like privacy could be an issue with a 10-person tent, rest assured that many models feature separate sleeping compartments. A top pick, the Ozark Trail, comes with three rooms for extra privacy, space and comfort.
What to know before you buy a 10-person tent
Weight
This will ultimately depend on the fabric of your tent. While in the past, tents primarily used cotton canvas and other heavy materials, most tents on the market today use polyester, nylon or a combination of the two. This makes even larger tents lightweight and portable without cutting corners on quality.
Types of tents
There are a few types of 10-person tents on the market, and each type comes with its own pros and cons.
The most common type of 10-person will be a dome tent. This style of tent will be familiar to anyone who has camped before. It makes use of three to four separate poles to hoist and support the fabric.
Another typical style of a 10-person tent is the cone style. These tents usually use one pole in the middle and stakes to secure the bottom of the tent on the ground.
Comfortability
Most models are true to their word when it comes to how many people they can fit comfortably, but if you prefer to camp with air mattresses, it’s worth considering which sizes of mattresses can fit in a tent.
For example, the Ozark Trail 10-person tent has three sleeping compartments but can fit three queen-sized air mattresses and a twin-sized air mattress.
What to look for in a quality 10-person tent
Sturdiness and durability
When considering which 10-person tent to buy, pay extra attention to how sturdy the tent is. The larger the tent, the more prone it is to wind. You’ll want to make sure that the tent comes with quality ground stakes, and if not, consider buying your own.
As mentioned before, most 10-person tents use lightweight materials such as nylon or polyester. These materials are great because they are breathable and light while still being durable and waterproof.
Simple set-up
It’s always best to find a 10-person tent that is as easy to set up as possible. No one wants to waste time setting up a needlessly complicated tent.
Having a simple set-up doesn’t necessarily mean that you can pitch the tent alone. If you plan to set up the tent solo, consider the Ozark Trail 10-person tent or the Coleman WeatherMaster.
Storage space
Most 10-person tents will come with some sort of storage space for clothes, food or other items. The Timber Ridge family tent, for example, comes with plenty of storage space. Notably, this tent makes use of netting that you can suspend from the top of the tent for extra storage space.
How much you can expect to spend on a 10-person tent
10-person tents can range from the budget price of $100-$1,000. The cost typically correlates to the tent style, with the most common styles being less pricey.
10-person tent FAQ
Do I need to buy any extra accessories for my 10-person tent?
A. In short, no. A quality 10-person tent will come with everything you need in the bag. If you want to take extra precautions, you could look into buying a tarp to put under the tent and some quality tent stakes to make sure that it is secured to the ground.
Is it possible to set up a 10-person tent on my own?
A. This will largely depend on the set-up process of your specific 10-person tent. If it has a more complicated set-up, you’re better off bringing along a friend. Check out the set-up instructions that came with your tent to see if it seems feasible to set it up alone.
What’s the best 10-person tent to buy?
Top 10-person tent
Ozark Trail 10-Person Tent
What you need to know: This tent is spacious and great for both novice and seasoned campers.
What you’ll love: Easy set-up and sturdy construction make this tent stand out from the competition.
What you should consider: If you’re camping in an area subject to high winds, like the beach, you should consider buying extra-long stakes.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top 10-person tent for the money
UNP 10-Person Family Tent
What you need to know: This 10-person tent is excellent for anyone on a budget. This spacious tent has quality fabric and an easy set-up.
What you’ll love: This tent has two main sleeping compartments separated by an optional divider that can double as an in-tent cinema screen.
What you should consider: Best for use in good weather.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Core 11-Person Family Cabin Tent
What you need to know: The main feature of this tent is its spacious screen room. Great for anyone that wants to feel extra close to nature.
What you’ll love: Extra sturdy and weather-proof, this tent can house a large group comfortably.
What you should consider: This tent has a relatively large footprint and may not fit some campsites. It is also heavier, weighing in at about 43lbs.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Addison Hoggard writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
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Best 10-person tent
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https://www.counton2.com/reviews/br/camping-outdoors-br/tents-br/best-10-person-tent/
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[
"Chase Laudenslager",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:02:18+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:02:00
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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System on Thursday announced that it has been selected as a winner of the 2021 Veterans Health Administration Community Partnership Challenge. “The award recognizes VA facility partnerships with local community organizations that help Veterans and their families lead happier, healthier lives,” like the partnership between […]
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.counton2.com%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fcharleston-county-news%2Fcharleston-va-hospital-awarded-for-community-initiatives%2F.json
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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System on Thursday announced that it has been selected as a winner of the 2021 Veterans Health Administration Community Partnership Challenge.
“The award recognizes VA facility partnerships with local community organizations that help Veterans and their families lead happier, healthier lives,” like the partnership between the Ralph H. Johnson suicide prevention team and Lowcountry hospitals.
The goal of the partnership is to “improve clinical care for Veterans transitioning from community inpatient mental health treatment to outpatient VA mental health care.”
Ralph H. Johnson’s Director and CEO Scott Isaacks explained that “integrating [Veterans] back into our programs for follow-up care enhances continuity of care, with a long-term outcome of a more comprehensive care plan to keep our Veterans safe.”
Over the past year, 103 Veterans have received appropriate follow-up care thanks to the partnership.
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Charleston VA Hospital awarded for community initiatives
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https://www.counton2.com/news/local-news/charleston-county-news/charleston-va-hospital-awarded-for-community-initiatives/
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[
"Maria Cheng",
"Associated Press",
"Carolyn Murray",
"The Associated Press",
"Raymond Owens"
] |
2021-08-20 02:17:43+00:00
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2021-08-19 04:10:55
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LONDON (AP) — What is being done to distribute COVID-19 vaccines globally? Several groups are working to get shots to poor countries, but they’re falling far short of what’s needed to curb outbreaks around the world. Among the efforts is COVAX, which relies on donations from rich countries and private funders. The group hasmissed its […]
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en
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LONDON (AP) — What is being done to distribute COVID-19 vaccines globally?
Several groups are working to get shots to poor countries, but they’re falling far short of what’s needed to curb outbreaks around the world.
Among the efforts is COVAX, which relies on donations from rich countries and private funders. The group hasmissed its own distribution targets largely because it didn’t have the resources to secure vaccine supplies early on in the pandemic.
As of mid-August, COVAX has distributed about 207 million doses to 138 countries and territories. That’s compared with more than 417 million doses distributed in just the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
COVAXwas created last year to try and ensure vaccines are distributed fairly and is led by public health agencies including the World Health Organization. Without enough purchased vaccines, COVAX is now relying on donated shots from wealthy countries, but most of the pledged doses won’t be delivered this year.
Logistics are another problem. To get vaccines from COVAX, countries have to show how they’ll distribute the shots and prioritize high-risk people like health workers and the elderly. But some countries that are in desperate need of vaccines haven’t been able to show they can carry out such plans and lack the funds to carry out immunization campaigns.
Other groups have been stepping in to help. In July, the African Union said it bought 400 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson shot for 45 African countries. China, Russia and the U.S. have donated millions of vaccines to countries. And in June, the leading industrial nations known as the Group of Seven said they would donate 1 billion doses to poor countries. The G-7 countries are Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.
Still, that’s far short of the 11 billion doses WHO says are needed to stop the pandemic.
To protect people at high risk for severe illness in poor countries, WHO has urged rich countries to immediately donate more doses and to stop plans for immunizing children and giving booster doses.
“We are making conscious choices right now not to protect those in need,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
___
The AP is answering your questions about the coronavirus in this series. Submit them at: FactCheck@AP.org. Read more here:
Do the COVID-19 vaccines affect my chances of pregnancy?
Can I get ‘long COVID’ if I’m infected after vaccination?
What should I know about the delta variant?
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What is being done to distribute COVID-19 vaccines globally?
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