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2021-08-20 02:15:00+00:00
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2021-08-19 00:00:00
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Thursday, the Louisiana Gaming Control Board approved emergency rules, which will go into effect Monday and allow casinos to develop their permanent plans for sports books.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wbrz.com%2Fnews%2Flouisiana-could-see-legalized-sports-betting-in-time-for-football-season.json
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https://dcer237tfveol.cloudfront.net/v2/BiLw0J_DYIOdcsG4wSt2dgPxfa8Mc5ShLEB08kgyV3FNmB_dN4msTvE-Qy0HqE9xLgc4r2ekXOKZdC8_Fd10gdGG4LmLjujwW95DfgLT7GKA
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en
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Louisiana could see legalized sports betting in time for football season
BATON ROUGE - Thursday, the Louisiana Gaming Control Board approved emergency rules, which will go into effect Monday and allow casinos to develop their permanent plans for sports books.
"People of Louisiana are very excited, and they spoke very loudly. Sixty-five percent of the people who voted in the state said that they wanted that. So, that's almost a 2-1 referendum. So we're excited we're moving forward," said Ronnie Johns, chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.
All casino properties will have some semblance of a sports bet parlor, including the new Hollywood casino which broke ground last week.
Soon, 55 of the 64 parishes in Louisiana will be able to place their bets. But the million-dollar question is when.
"It's hard to say, but I think that realistically sometime during football season we're going to see some sports betting actually go live in Louisiana," Johns said.
A specific date is still in the works, but Chairman Johns says those dollars will be beneficial to the state.
"It's going to bring in dollars for our state budget. It's going to bring in dollars for local governments where the operations will be located. Also, remember that the legislature said that a certain percentage of the state dollars has to go to early childhood education. So, that's going to be a big win for those advocates of early childhood education, which I'm very excited about," Johns said.
Properties around the state will have six months to develop their permanent plans.
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www.wbrz.com
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Louisiana could see legalized sports betting in time for football season
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https://www.wbrz.com/news/louisiana-could-see-legalized-sports-betting-in-time-for-football-season
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[] |
2021-08-20 02:15:00+00:00
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2021-08-19 00:00:00
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The dozer appeared to have fallen off a hauler driving down I-10 East near Acadian.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wbrz.com%2Fnews%2Fbulldozer-topples-off-i-10-resulting-in-gridlock-through-baton-rouge-thursday-afternoon.json
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https://dcer237tfveol.cloudfront.net/v2/u5HcbM_yNqpr1SvpHCNH7AFHteOutDarHmPG9ojNbEFEm4S_b1KrjuKjXGFtC6Kd2H_iCmqiXDDoHS656hu79sxOMmsYzEAF_7oM-1jlNHzpo0Q2per0xjbukqgMXl9mc
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en
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Bulldozer topples off I-10, resulting in gridlock through Baton Rouge Thursday afternoon
BATON ROUGE - Traffic came to a notorious Baton Rouge halt Thursday afternoon in either direction after a bulldozer toppled off the interstate.
Click HERE for the WBRZ traffic map.
The dozer appeared to have fallen off a hauler driving down I-10 East near Acadian.
Damage in a picture shared with WBRZ showed part of the railing of the interstate was ripped off as the equipment slid off and then landed on the grass under the I-10 elevated highway stretching through Baton Rouge.
The dozer was covered in pieces of wood.
The truck hauling the dozer stopped further up the interstate after losing its load.
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www.wbrz.com
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Bulldozer topples off I-10, resulting in gridlock through Baton Rouge Thursday afternoon
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https://www.wbrz.com/news/bulldozer-topples-off-i-10-resulting-in-gridlock-through-baton-rouge-thursday-afternoon
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[] |
2021-08-20 01:52:23+00:00
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2021-08-19 22:54:27
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A helicopter could be seen flying around Ponce De Leon Park with a person hanging out of the helicopter.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fnbc-2.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2F2021%2F08%2F19%2Fcharlotte-county-sheriffs-office-holds-water-rescue-training-in-punta-gorda%2F.json
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en
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The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit is always training. On Thursday they were in the sky, over the water, working on water rescue skills.
A helicopter could be seen flying around Ponce De Leon Park with a person hanging out of the helicopter.
The crew member goes into the water, then back into the sky. The reason they practice this is for situations where people are stuck: whether it be their boat has overturned, or if they’re having a medical emergency.
This crew can get out, get to the person, and get them to help as quickly as possible. The aviation crew is sometimes able to reach boats in the water faster than a boat can because they can cover more ground at a quicker pace.
CCSO does this training on a regular basis to make sure they are ready to go should they be needed in an emergency.
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nbc-2.com
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Charlotte County Sheriff's Office holds water rescue training in Punta Gorda
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https://nbc-2.com/news/local/2021/08/19/charlotte-county-sheriffs-office-holds-water-rescue-training-in-punta-gorda/
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[] |
2021-08-20 01:52:04+00:00
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2021-08-19 14:04:08
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The FHP trooper was stopped at a red light when he was rear-ended at a low speed, according to officials. When he got out of his car to check for damage, convicted felon Morris Eliott Moore pointed a gun at him.
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https%3A%2F%2Fnbc-2.com%2Fnews%2F2021%2F08%2F19%2Fwatch-armed-carjacker-arrested-after-stealing-fhp-troopers-car%2F.json
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en
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OCALA, Fla.–An armed man stole an off-duty Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) trooper’s car on Tuesday, after rear-ending him at a light.
The FHP trooper was stopped at a red light when he was rear-ended at a low speed, according to officials. When he got out of his car to check for damage, convicted felon Morris Eliott Moore pointed a gun at him.
Moore then stole the FHP trooper’s watch, cell phone, wallet, and the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro he was driving. Inside Moore’s car, a woman hopped in the driver’s seat to follow the stolen car.
OnStar was able to figure out where the carjacker was heading, notifying multiple law enforcement agencies, one of which was the air unit with Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
You can watch the chase HERE:
Authorities attempted to pull Moore over, leading to a chase that continued into Orange County.
OnStar was able to disable the car so Moore took off on foot before launching himself into a nearby pond. With the help of K-9’s, officials found the carjacker hiding under a dock.
According to the Ocala Police Department, Morris is on probation for armed burglary. He was arrested on Tuesday for armed carjacking, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The woman who followed Moore after the carjacking has not been found.
Information about the case can be sent to Detective Gago at 352-369-7000. Anonymous tips can be reported to Marion County Crime Stoppers at 352-368-STOP.
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nbc-2.com
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WATCH: Armed carjacker arrested after stealing FHP trooper's car
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https://nbc-2.com/news/2021/08/19/watch-armed-carjacker-arrested-after-stealing-fhp-troopers-car/
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[] |
2021-08-20 01:52:48+00:00
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2021-08-19 22:50:19
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Several rounds of flash flooding have occurred in Arizona this summer prompting numerous water rescues in the southern part of the state.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fnbc-2.com%2Fweather%2Fweather-blog%2F2021%2F08%2F19%2Fweather-blog-what-causes-arizonas-monsoon-season%2F.json
|
en
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Several rounds of flash flooding have occurred in Arizona this summer prompting numerous water rescues in the southern part of the state.
This includes a slew of incidents with people being stuck in their cars and at least one event of a couple being airlifted from a mobile home when a nearby storm caused a torrent of water to flood their community.
Since Arizona is often thought of as being a big dry and hot desert, images of flooding often catch some people by surprise. Though it’s true southern Arizona has a hot and dry climate for much of the year, the region also has a monsoon season that typically kicks into gear by mid-June and persists through late September.
One of the reasons the state experiences an influx of moisture leading to a monsoon season ironically has to do with the intense heat the state is known for.
Let’s examine it this way: In the world of weather, the word monsoon means a seasonal reversal of winds. In the case of Arizona, for much of the year when the heat is at its highest, the winds across the state often come in from the west or north moving at the state while going over uninterrupted stretches of land.
This keeps the air dry and hot and helps give cities like Phoenix, Yuma, and Tucson scores of triple-digit high temperatures especially through late spring and early summer. But starting in mid-summer and lasting into early fall, the winds often take on a more southwesterly approach.
This encourages moisture from the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean to move north and northwest over the state giving Arizona times of typically brief but highly impactful rain.
What causes the wind reversal is the temperature contrast that exists in the desert southwest. The intense early summer heat in this part of the country forms what is called a thermal low over the region (marked with the red “L” in the image below).
When the deserts heat up, rising air over the expansive southwest forms a region of relatively low pressure in the atmosphere. Areas of low pressure, whether they are from the dry deserts or the humid tropics work in a similar fashion by pulling air inward and in a counter-clockwise direction (at least north of the Equator because of the rotation of the Earth).
Because of the geography of the region, the switch in the wind flow creates a difference in the weather, which can become extremely dangerous during flash flooding.
While the monsoon season brings Arizona the bulk of the rain it tends to see each year, it also is the time of year when dust storms are most likely to form. A dust storm is often referred to as a haboob, a word originating from Arabic describing a violent wind and dust event.
The reason these dust events coincide with the rainy times of year in Arizona is that a situation can often arise where a thunderstorm is unable to produce much rain since it evaporates before hitting the ground. When this happens, the wind that occurs with thunderstorms has nothing in its way to push around the sand, dust, and dirt that comprises the Arizona landscape.
Dust storms can be intense in Arizona, and also spectacularly visual. You can read more (and see more) about a notorious dust storm event in 1998 from the National Weather Service by clicking here.
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nbc-2.com
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Weather Blog: What causes Arizona's monsoon season?
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https://nbc-2.com/weather/weather-blog/2021/08/19/weather-blog-what-causes-arizonas-monsoon-season/
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[] |
2021-08-20 01:52:42+00:00
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2021-08-19 01:19:29
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The free service will be built into Disney Parks' established apps along with a paid version called "Disney Genie+" that allows guests to access the "Lightning Lane" for $15 at Disney World and $20 at Disneyland.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fnbc-2.com%2Fnews%2Fstate%2F2021%2F08%2F18%2Fdisney-replaces-fastpass-system-with-new-paid-service%2F.json
|
en
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Millions of guests visit Disney theme parks each year, and most of them probably loathe waiting 90 minutes to ride “Peter Pan’s Flight.” Now Disney is rolling out a new service that will help park-goers streamline their visits and cut down on wait times.
“Genie” — which debuts this fall at California’s Disneyland and Florida’s Disney World — is a new digital service that will “maximize your park time, so you can have more fun,” according to the company.
“From specific attractions, foodie experiences and entertainment, to general interests like Disney princesses, villains, Pixar, Star Wars, thrill rides and more — just tell Disney Genie what you want to do and it will do the planning for you,” Disney said in a blog post on Wednesday.
Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro told CNN Business this week that the company listened to guests who want the theme park experience to be simpler, straightforward, and tailored “for them.”
The free service will be built into Disney Parks’ established apps along with a paid version called “Disney Genie+” that allows guests to access the “Lightning Lane” for $15 at Disney World and $20 at Disneyland, CNN reports.
“Lightning Lane” is basically a paid version of a benefit that used to be free for guests: Disney’s FastPass, which allowed visitors to book ride and attraction times in advance to avoid long waits. The FastPass system at Walt Disney World was put on hiatus during the pandemic, and is being replaced permanently by “Lightning Lane.”
On the day of their visit, guests can use the paid app to select available times for more than 15 attractions at Disneyland and more than 40 attractions at Disney World (including classics such as “Haunted Mansion” and new attractions like “Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run”) as well as cut down on wait times when visiting multiple parks.
Beyond shorter lines, “Genie+” will also offer audio experiences themed around Disney parks, augmented reality lenses for Disney World guests, and unlimited “PhotoPass” downloads for those heading to Disneyland, which gives professional photos to guests.
The “Genie” app is the latest initiative from Disney to invest in technology that connects the digital world to the physical parks themselves. The company has previously announced new immersive, tech-focused attractions and hotels as well as a partnership with Snap, according to CNN.
In addition to improving the guest experience, the new “Genie” app is also good business: the less time a guest spends waiting in line, the more time they have to buy food, drinks, and merchandise. Disney’s Parks unit brought in $4.3 billion in the third quarter, up from $1.1 billion in the same quarter last year.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
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nbc-2.com
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Disney replaces FastPass system with new paid service
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https://nbc-2.com/news/state/2021/08/18/disney-replaces-fastpass-system-with-new-paid-service/
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[] |
2021-08-20 01:52:16+00:00
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2021-08-19 17:43:43
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The "Shave-Off" will take place on September 10th with Golisano's Children's Hospital cancer patients. Fire Marshal Janet Washburn with Bonita Springs will raise money and help promote awareness.
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https%3A%2F%2Fnbc-2.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2F2021%2F08%2F19%2Fbonita-springs-fire-marshal-to-participate-in-shave-off-to-raise-money-for-cancer-patients%2F.json
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en
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BONITA SPRINGS, Fla.– Firefighters around Southwest Florida will have their heads shaved by cancer patients as part of a fundraising campaign.
The “Shave-Off” will take place on September 10th with Golisano’s Children’s Hospital cancer patients. Fire Marshal Janet Washburn with Bonita Springs will raise money and help promote awareness.
Donations can be made HERE.
Fire Mashal Washburn shared a statement about how she felt personally connected to the campaign:
“Cancer and its treatment changes more than just how a patient feels, it also changes how they look. For some patients, the changes to their appearance is as distressing as the physical ailments. Your donations will provide life-saving treatments to local children with cancer. In addition, by shaving my head, I hope to begin building a body-positive community that supports young cancer patients, physically and emotionally. Many people are affected by cancer. Undergoing cancer treatment is a deeply private event. Equally as personal, is the myriad of emotions a person with cancer goes through on their journey to good health. The disease and it’s treatment is made more difficult in a society that places emphasis on how we look, especially for young girls. Children with cancer may feel self-conscious about the changes to their body, which is why it’s important to come together as a community to show children how to #FightCancerWithConfidence.”
The full statement can be read HERE.
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nbc-2.com
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Bonita Springs' fire marshal to participate in "shave-off" to raise money for cancer patients
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https://nbc-2.com/news/local/2021/08/19/bonita-springs-fire-marshal-to-participate-in-shave-off-to-raise-money-for-cancer-patients/
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[] |
2021-08-20 01:52:29+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:57:16
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The ban will start Oct. 1 and is the result of requests from banking partners and companies that handle financial transactions, a spokesperson said.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fnbc-2.com%2Fnews%2Fnational-world%2F2021%2F08%2F19%2Fonlyfans-website-to-ban-sexually-explicit-content%2F.json
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en
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OnlyFans, a site where fans pay creators for their photos and videos, is planning to ban “sexually explicit” content.
The ban will start Oct. 1 and is the result of requests from banking partners and companies that handle financial transactions, a spokesperson said.
Still, nudity is OK if it’s “consistent” with the company’s policy. It’s not clear what that policy is, and the company did not reply to questions. OnlyFans will be sharing more information in “coming days.”
OnlyFans has become famous as a space for celebrities to interact with people on a personal level, as well as a place where sex workers can post and get paid in a relatively safe manner.
It’s not available as an app via the Apple and Google stores, which ban pornography. OnlyFans has tried to distance itself from its association with porn, recently announcing an OFTV streaming app, which is available for download from the major tech platforms, and features content around categories like fitness, cooking, comedy and music.
OnlyFans says it has 130 million users and 2 million creators who have collectively earned $5 billion.
Bloomberg was first to report the news.
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nbc-2.com
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OnlyFans website to ban ‘sexually explicit’ content
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https://nbc-2.com/news/national-world/2021/08/19/onlyfans-website-to-ban-sexually-explicit-content/
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[] |
2021-08-20 01:52:10+00:00
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2021-08-19 13:31:01
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The man is suspected of two vehicle break-ins in a parking lot at 2311 Santa Barbara Boulevard South. He reportedly broke the windows of both cars, stealing a purse and briefcase from inside.
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https%3A%2F%2Fnbc-2.com%2Fnews%2Fcrime%2F2021%2F08%2F19%2Fcape-coral-police-search-for-man-suspected-in-two-car-break-ins%2F.json
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en
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CAPE CORAL, Fla.– Cape Coral police are searching for a happy burglar, caught on camera.
Cape Coral Police Department
The man is suspected of two vehicle break-ins in a parking lot at 2311 Santa Barbara Boulevard South. He reportedly broke the windows of both cars, stealing a purse and briefcase from inside.
The man was captured on camera wearing a smile.
Police reminded Cape residents in their Facebook post to not only lock their cars but also hide any valuables from plain sight.
If you have any information about the incident, tips can be sent to the Cape Coral Police Department at 239-574-3223 in reference to case number 21-017687.
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nbc-2.com
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Cape Coral police search for man suspected in two car break-ins
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https://nbc-2.com/news/crime/2021/08/19/cape-coral-police-search-for-man-suspected-in-two-car-break-ins/
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[
"Joey Gill",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Lee Hedgepeth"
] |
2021-08-20 02:11:56+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:24:16
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An Alabama congressman's statement about the man who claimed to have a bomb outside of the Library of Congress has fellow members of Congress condemning his words Thursday, accusing him of sympathizing with a terrorist.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbs42.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Frep-mo-brooks-says-he-understands-citizenry-anger-in-statement-about-capitol-hill-bomb-threat-suspect%2F.json
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en
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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WKRN) — An Alabama congressman’s statement about the man who claimed to have a bomb outside of the Library of Congress has fellow members of Congress condemning his words Thursday, accusing him of sympathizing with a terrorist.
Republican Mo Brooks, whose district covers Huntsville and northern Alabama, tweeted a statement Thursday offering his condolences to his staff, Capitol Police, and first responders.
My statement on the Capitol bomb threat: pic.twitter.com/yCuTNTbJyP — Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) August 19, 2021
“Sadly, violence and threats of violence targeting America’s political institutions are far too common,” Rep. Brooks said in the statement.
However, Brooks took the statement a step further saying that he “understood citizenry anger directed at dictatorial Socialism and its threat to liberty, freedom, and the very fabric of American society.”
Brooks’ statement Thursday on the same day as the bomb threat prompted a wave of social media criticism from other members of Congress.
“It is astonishing that this needs to be said but no one who serves in Congress should be expressing public sympathy with the views of a terrorist who threatened to blow up the U.S. Capitol,” Virginia Rep. Don Beyer tweeted. “I would have thought we could all at least agree on that.”
The Alabama Democratic party responded to Rep. Brooks’ tweet: “Mo Brooks quoted Hitler and compared Democrats to Nazis. On January 6th, he told the crowd who later stormed the Capitol to ‘kick ass and take names.’ Today, Brooks assumed the person threatening the US Capitol with a bomb was on his side saying he ‘understand(s)’ the anger.”
In a tweet, California Congressman Eric Swalwell retweeted Brooks‘s statement, saying: “Tell us you stand with the terrorist without telling us you stand with the terrorist.”
Earlier Thursday, 49-year-old Floyd Ray Roseberry of North Carolina, drove onto the sidewalk outside the Library of Congress and made bomb threats to officers.
The standoff was resolved peacefully after roughly five hours of negotiations, ending when Roseberry crawled out of the truck and was taken into law enforcement custody.
The episode unfolded during a tense period in Washington, coming eight months after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and one month before a planned rally in Washington that law enforcement officials have been preparing for.
Police negotiators spent hours communicating with Roseberry as he wrote notes and showed them to authorities from inside the truck, according to the two people and a third person also briefed on the matter, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.
While police continued negotiations, video surfaced of Roseberry on Facebook Live inside the truck, which was stuffed with coins and boxes. He was threatening explosions, making anti-government threats and talking about what he believes are the ills of the country, including the U.S. position on Afghanistan, health care and the military.
He said Democrats needed to step down, then also said he loved the president, Democrat Joe Biden. Facebook removed the videos a few hours after they were apparently filmed. Roseberry did not appear to have a specific demand for law enforcement other than to speak with Biden.
Videos posted to his Facebook before the page was taken down appears to show Roseberry at the Nov. 14 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.”
Rep. Swallwell tweeted Thursday that what bothers him and his colleagues is that if Brooks “wasn’t in Congress on January 6 he would have been on the other side of the chamber with the violent mob.”
Swalwell filed a lawsuit against Brooks, Former President Donald Trump, former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, and Donald Trump Jr. back in March “for inciting an attack against the Capitol that terrorized lawmakers and prevented us from certifying the votes of the American people.”
Brooks has since asked for immunity from the lawsuit, arguing that “he was acting within the scope of his office when he spoke at a rally Jan. 6 and thus was due the legal protections afforded federal employees and members of Congress who are facing civil lawsuits over their jobs.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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www.cbs42.com
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Rep. Mo Brooks says he understands 'citizenry anger' in statement about Capitol Hill bomb threat suspect
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https://www.cbs42.com/news/politics/rep-mo-brooks-says-he-understands-citizenry-anger-in-statement-about-capitol-hill-bomb-threat-suspect/
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|||||
[
"Patrick Ary",
"Lee Hedgepeth"
] |
2021-08-20 02:11:38+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:16:00
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Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb will appear on behalf of former Limestone County sheriff Mike Blakely at his sentencing Friday.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbs42.com%2Falabama-news%2Fformer-al-supreme-court-chief-justice-sue-bell-cobb-to-represent-former-limestone-county-sheriff-mike-blakely-at-fridays-sentencing%2F.json
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en
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LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. — Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb will appear on behalf of former Limestone County sheriff Mike Blakely at his sentencing Friday.
Online court records show Cobb filed a notice of appearance as counsel for Blakely Thursday afternoon.
Blakely will be sentenced Friday morning for felony theft and ethics convictions. A jury convicted him Aug. 2.
Blakely’s felonies carry a sentencing range of 2 to 20 years in prison. But under Alabama law, Blakely is unlikely to face prison time, as the theft charge falls under Alabama’s presumptive sentencing guidelines. The guidelines largely direct judges to sentence based on a sentencing score derived from a worksheet.
Cobb served as chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court from 2007-2011. Prior to that she served on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. As chief justice, she played a key role in helping establish new sentencing guidelines in Alabama for non-violent offenders convicted of property crimes — like the former sheriff.
The two felony convictions led to Blakely’s removal as sheriff. County coroner Mike West is performing sheriff’s duties until Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey can appoint a replacement.
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www.cbs42.com
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Former AL Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb to represent former Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely at Friday's sentencing
|
https://www.cbs42.com/alabama-news/former-al-supreme-court-chief-justice-sue-bell-cobb-to-represent-former-limestone-county-sheriff-mike-blakely-at-fridays-sentencing/
|
|||||
[
"Josh Breslow",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Lee Hedgepeth"
] |
2021-08-20 02:11:44+00:00
|
2021-08-20 00:13:41
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Two "unruly" passengers were arrested Tuesday at Nashville International Airport after police said they refused to wear masks onboard their flights.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbs42.com%2Fnews%2Fcrime%2Funruly-passengers-arrested-at-tennessee-airport-after-refusing-to-wear-masks-on-flights%2F.json
|
en
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Two “unruly” passengers were arrested Tuesday at Nashville International Airport after police said they refused to wear masks onboard their flights.
A warrant states airport police responded around 5:30 a.m. to gate C10, where a man, identified as 33-year-old Artur Grigoryan, would not wear his mask while on an American Airlines flight. The flight was delayed, as he was removed from the plane.
Artur Grigoryan (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)
Officers said they also received a call the night prior about Grigoryan, who had refused to wear a face covering onboard a Spirit Airlines flight and called the crew “vulgar names.” He was denied any future flights with Spirit Airlines, as a result.
Police said Grigoryan was also caught stealing sandwiches and a soda from the Green Beans Coffee Shop at the airport, while waiting to board the American Airlines flight. The owner of the shop chose not to prosecute Grigoryan for the theft.
Grigoryan was arrested and booked into the Metro jail on a charge of disorderly conduct.
In a separate incident later that same morning, a warrant states airport police responded to a report from Southwest Airlines about a passenger onboard one of their flights to Washington D.C. refusing to wear a mask. The pilot had turned the plane around, as a result.
James Swafford (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)
The passenger, identified by police as 24-year-old James Swafford, was removed from the plane. He became aggressive toward officers and used profanity in front of other passengers, causing a disturbance, according to investigators.
Swafford was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct.
Bond for both men was set at $1,000.
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www.cbs42.com
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'Unruly' passengers arrested at Tennessee airport after refusing to wear masks on flights
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https://www.cbs42.com/news/crime/unruly-passengers-arrested-at-tennessee-airport-after-refusing-to-wear-masks-on-flights/
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[
"Lee Hedgepeth",
"Tanner Brooks"
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2021-08-20 02:11:50+00:00
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2021-08-20 01:34:47
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Anniston Fire Department Lt. Justin Roberts has died at RMC hospital after a battle with COVID-19, the city's fire chief confirmed Thursday night.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbs42.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fjustin-roberts-anniston-fire-department-lieutenant-dies-after-battle-with-covid-19%2F.json
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ANNISTON, Ala. (WIAT) — Anniston Fire Department Lt. Justin Roberts has died at RMC hospital after a battle with COVID-19, the city’s fire chief confirmed Thursday night.
Roberts, a 19-year veteran of the department, had been placed on a ventilator at RMC Friday, according to Anniston Fire’s Facebook.
“Please say a prayer for our brother, Anniston Fire Lieutenant Justin Roberts along with his wife Michelle and son Jake,” the department posted last week. “Justin was placed on a ventilator today at RMC as he fights a battle with COVID-19.”
The department also posted a GoFundMe to help raise money for the family’s expenses.
“We are raising money for our brother, Anniston Fire Lieutenant Justin Roberts along with his wife Michelle and son Jake,” the page says. “We would like to raise funds to help him and his family to take care of any needs that may arise dealing with health and recovery. He’s a great Lieutenant/Firefighter, Husband, Father, Son, Brother and friend! God is good!”
As of Thursday night, 93 donors had already contributed $8,625 towards the department’s $10,000 goal.
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www.cbs42.com
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Justin Roberts, Anniston Fire Department lieutenant, dies after battle with COVID-19
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2021-08-20 02:01:53+00:00
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2021-08-20 01:45:00
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Students can now have a sigh of relief as the President of the University Teachers Association (UTAG) Prof Charles Marfo has announced a halt to the strike.
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Students can now have a sigh of relief as the President of the University Teachers Association (UTAG) Prof Charles Marfo has announced a halt to the strike.
This comes after the National Labour Commission (NLC) withdrew its suit against UTAG from the Labor Division of the Accra High Court today.
Government has agreed to go back to the negotiation table with the leadership of UTAG bringing an end to the 17-day old strike by UTAG.
Prof Marfo said the leadership of UTAG will inform their members of the latest decision with the hope that their demands would be fully addressed by government.
“If you look at the document we signed with government, there were processes to withdraw all cases against UTAG, and UTAG has also taken steps to withdraw the strike.
"…It is necessary that the people whose mandate we used are approached; we need to respectfully inform them of the document we have signed; I believe they will sanction that”, Professor Charles Marfo noted.
Professor Charles Marfo also explained that students in the various public universities will start preparing for the semester exams which was suspended due to the strike.
“Normally, this has to be the decision of management. However, I know it’s because of our strike that they suspended exams, so obviously now that we have suspended it, they will put plans in place for it to happen”, Professor Marfo explained.
There have are mixed reactions among students following the announcement. While some of them are happy the University teachers are going back to the classroom, others are indifferent calling for more time to enable them study for the exams.
This, Professor Charles Marfo says is understandable.
“I can understand them, and I know management will take their plea into consideration.”
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UTAG calls off strike
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2021-08-20 02:01:55+00:00
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2021-08-20 02:15:00
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A delegation of agencies under the United Nations (UN) on Thursday, August 19, 2021, paid a historic courtesy call on Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin at his Palace at Kibi in the Akyem Abuakwa Kingdom of the Eastern Region.
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A delegation of agencies under the United Nations (UN) on Thursday, August 19, 2021, paid a historic courtesy call on Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin at his Palace at Kibi in the Akyem Abuakwa Kingdom of the Eastern Region.
Led by the substantive UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana Charles Abani, the objective of the visit was in fulfilment of deliberations that had gone on in the last two years.
It was also to confirm that a grant of US$1million has been secured to support the tree planning project of the Okyenhene through his Okyeman Environmental Foundation.
Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin is seeking to plant 25 million trees in his Kingdom to avert the harm done the environment by the activities of illegal mining, logging of trees.
Speaking on the purpose of the visit in the presence of the Okyenhene and his sub-chiefs and elders, Charles Abani who is UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana commended Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin for his active work, particularly through the Okyeman Environment Foundation, to address issues relating to the environment, health and education.
He said the UN through its agencies [UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, UNEP and UNV] together with OEF have been working jointly to develop a programme that addresses multiple interconnected challenges in the Kingdom and to mobilize resources to make this possible.
UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana Charles Abani
According to the UN Resident Coordinator, the joint efforts have yielded significant results that have led to the development of a multi-sectoral programme that builds on existing initiatives implemented by the environmental foundation of the Okyenhene.
“We [the UN Country Office in Ghana] have received a total grant amount of 1 million dollars from the UN Human Security Trust Fund to implement development initiatives together with the Okyeman Environment Foundation and other stakeholders. This will be supported with co-funding of another $1.3 million dollar from the participating UN Agencies to address multiple development issues and provide an impetus to sustain the process,” Mr. Abani announced.
The UN Resident Coordinator noted that his outfit hopes that it will support and empower local structures to respond to some of the challenges and help leverage the opportunity to mobilize more resources.
Welcoming his guest, Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin emphasized the importance of respecting nature to foster sustainable development.
His Royal Majesty said for sustainable development to be effective and the economy to grow, the locals of the various communities must be given the platform to play a key role.
Raising concern over how systems are centralized, Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin stressed that “We need to understand that once we bring the decision and management to the locals, things will be better.”
Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin
The Okyenhene said although there are people who doubt climate change and its effects, it is important to educate them to protect the environment for future generations to benefit.
On his part, Mr. Eugene Owusu who is a special advisor to President Akufo-Addo on the Sustainable Development Goals told journalists that the intervention by the UN is significant to help Ghana achieve the SDGs that focuses on health, education, and the environment.
He said while it is very clear that climate change has become a pressing and present danger to the world, it is an essential threat that needs to be dealt with.
“In the context of that challenge that we do face there are a number of national initiatives that support climate change action but we came to Okyeman in the context of a partnership between the Okyehene Environmental Foundation and the UN Country team,” Mr. Eugene Owusu shared.
The special advisor to the President on the SDGs added, “My unit and the President is interested in this because it is very important to mitigate climate action. This is consistent with the green Ghana agenda that was launched recently by the Ministry of Lands and Natural resources.”
About the UN programme with the Okyenhene Environmental Foundation:
Over the three-year period, the programme is expected to benefit over 1.3 million people (671,921 women and 505,907 children between the ages of 0-14 years) spanning across 5 out of the 14 districts of the Eastern Region.
As livelihood is a critical issue, an absence of which forces many into illegal mining and exploitation of the natural resources, the programme will explore and establish community-based alternative livelihood interventions for youth, women and vulnerable population by piloting the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) mechanism in consultation with local groups, and the Okyeman Environment Foundation.
The UN will build the capacity of local structures to make considerable investment in the reforestation program and manage their natural resources. This would be hinged on sustainable environmental governance and management, ecotourism, livelihoods empowerment, and the promotion of better health and education outcomes.
The project will support local initiative to plant 3 million trees over the next 3 years to restore degraded landscapes and create awareness on best agroforestry practices in the region. The goal is to plant fast maturing tree species that can be harvested periodically for its economic benefits and regrown and establish renewable forestry plantations for the communities.
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UN delegation visits Okyenhene; announces US$1million grant for tree planting project
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2021-08-20 02:02:08+00:00
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2021-08-20 02:55:00
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The Axim Planning and Organizing Committee has denied receiving a sum of GHS200,000 from the Ministry of Tourism in 2018 for the annual Kundum Festival.
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The Axim Planning and Organizing Committee has denied receiving a sum of GHS200,000 from the Ministry of Tourism in 2018 for the annual Kundum Festival.
It comes after the Auditor-General’s report for the period ended 31 December 2020 revealed that an amount of GH¢387,196.00 meant for the Marine Drive project was misapplied and spent on other activities including the AFRIMA and Kundum Festivals.
“In contravention of Section 7 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), we noted that funds meant for the Marine Drive project amounting to GH¢387,196.00 were misapplied for the celebration of AFRIMA, Kundum Festival, and other activities,” the Audit Report states.
The audit report also mentions the release of GH¢100,000.00 to Palm Media Ghana Ltd for the launch of AFRIMA 2018 on 17th-19th May 2018, and 200,000 for the release of funds to support Kundum Festival from 1st – 9th September 2018.
In reaction, the Axim Annual Kundum Planning and Organizing Committee has released a statement to set the record straight.
“It should also be noted that no funds were received from either the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Arts or Hon Catherine Afeku's office to assist with the aftermath of any of our Kundum Festival projects, including the Theatre Project.
“The Committee therefore cautions the public and sympathizers of the two political parties in the Evalue Ajomoro Gwira Constituency not to bring the Planning and Organising Committee and any of its members, as well as the traditional leadership of Axim, into disrepute and public ridicule over the pending financial irregularities cited by the Auditor General regarding monies meant for Kundum Festival Celebration,” part of the release from the committee reads.
Meanwhile, the committee admits that it received an amount of GHS7,000 from the Tourism and Creative Arts Industry to be distributed to Axim's two traditional leaders (Upper and Lower).
It also admits that an amount of GHS5,000 was received from Madam Catherine Afeku's office as then Member of Parliament for its constituency to aid the successful organization of the festival.
Find below the release from the committee:
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Axim: We never received GHS200k for Kundum Festival; go to Catherine Afeku for clarification - Planning Committee react to Audit Report
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https://www.modernghana.com/news/1099278/axim-we-never-received-ghs200k-for-kundum-festiva.html
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2021-08-20 02:02:02+00:00
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2021-08-20 02:37:00
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The Network of Associations of Registered NGOs in Ghana (NARNGO) has advice the Secretary of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Prof.
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Listen to article
The Network of Associations of Registered NGOs in Ghana (NARNGO) has advice the Secretary of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), Prof. Ransford Gyampo to slow down on his utterances in the impasse with government.
It comes after the University of Ghana lecturer said in an interview that ‘lecturers don’t eat meetings’ in the wake of the UTAG strike action.
Referencing that statement and other bold claims from Prof. Gyampo, NARNGO has issued a press release calling for a ceasefire.
According to the Network, it is not only very sad to have the UG lecturer make such statements but it is also unfortunate and uncalled for.
“NARNGO will want to appeal to UTAG’s Secretary, Professor Ransford Gyampo to tone down his utterances and not to create a chaotic environment especially in these difficult times and collaborate with Government and National Labour Commission (NLC) to find amicable solution to this age-long problem successfully once and for all in the supreme interest of Ghana,” part of the release from NARNGO signed by National President & Project Strategist Kofi Lucas has said.
The Network stresses that “In the supreme interest of Ghana, we leaders, must be careful of our emotions, negative comments and utterances and exhibit maturity in order to sustain the peace and tranquility we are enjoying in Ghana.”
Find below the press release from NARNGO:
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Emotional Prof. Gyampo must tone down on his chaotic utterances - Group on UTAG brouhaha
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2021-08-20 02:01:54+00:00
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2021-08-20 02:03:00
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President Akufo-Addo has sided with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the country on calls to review certain portions of the 1992 constitution.
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President Akufo-Addo has sided with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the country on calls to review certain portions of the 1992 constitution.
This came to light at a meeting between the President and members of the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition at the Jubilee House.
Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil who disclosed this to journalists said “after 30 years of running the 1992 constitution, it has delivered political stability to the country but what is needed now is development for which reason some aspects of the constitution need a review”.
He added that there were suggestions of how some entrenched positions could be dealt with.
“There was the agreement that there needs to be a discussion so that we get the political value of which aspects of the constitution will need to be reviewed”, he pointed.
He hoped that the agreement between them and the President can be followed on to enhance socio-economic development.
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Akufo-Addo agrees with CSOs on calls to review 1992 constitution
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https://www.modernghana.com/news/1099213/akufo-addo-agrees-with-csos-on-calls-to-review.html
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2021-08-20 02:14:40+00:00
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2021-08-05 00:00:00
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48 Beds Donated For COVID Wards
Jamaica has received 48 hospital beds from the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives, to support the expansion of the COVID-19 hospital wards.
The donation worth JMD$11.3 million was received by the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, at the handover ceremony held at St. Joseph’s hospital in Kingston today (August 19).
Dr. Tufton welcomed the contribution and said it shows the importance of global partnership, against the fight of the pandemic.
“The hospital as an institution and the health care workers, have been very keen in providing support and so the beds are going to be very important particularly now, as I said, we’re seeing some nearly 90 per cent occupancy in a number of our hospital covid wards,” he said.
Minister Tufton noted that the government will be taking the necessary steps in the coming weeks to ensure the safety of Jamaicans while containing the spread of the Delta COVID-19 variant.
Against that backdrop, the Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica, Her Excellency Emina Tudakovic also commended the government and health care workers for their efforts towards fighting the pandemic.
“I’m very pleased that we can donate these beds to you. It’s from the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives. It’s a small contribution to the work you’ve been doing. I know as well that we’re looking to other ways we can support the government and the people of Jamaica in the coming weeks as well as on the Covid-front,” she stated.
The commissioner also urged Jamaicans to get vaccinated, as an important step towards surviving against the pandemic.
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48 Beds Donated For COVID Wards
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2021-08-20 02:15:11+00:00
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2021-08-05 00:00:00
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Gov’t Considering Further Tightening Of COVID-19 Measures
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government is considering further tightening of the coronavirus (COVID-19) infection prevention and control measures, as the number of cases in Jamaica continues to surge.
Mr. Holness said Jamaica was now struggling with the confirmed presence of the more transmissible Delta variant, noting that “that would probably be the cause of the increased numbers of infections and increased positivity rate”.
“We are now at a stage where the number of hospitalisations is challenging the capacity of our health systems. In fact, the majority of our hospitals are over their capacity. Our healthcare workers are stretched, and they are stressed,” the Prime Minister said.
He was speaking at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston on Thursday (August 19) following the arrival of the first tranche of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, donated by the United States (US) Government.
The initial shipment comprises 208,260 doses, augmented by kits that include syringes, needles and dilutants needed to administer the vaccines.
Mr. Holness said consequent on the latest spike, the Government has to consider a further tightening of the measures.
“It is clear that the messages that we have been communicating, regarding personal responsibility, wearing of masks, [physical] distancing, [and] keeping and observing the curfew hours… are not being heeded with great faithfulness,” he pointed out.
Consequently, Mr. Holness said “in the coming days, the Government will have to consider even tighter measures”.
This, he maintained, “is something… we loath doing because we understand the impact that it has on livelihoods and freedoms”.
“However, there is also a clear and present danger, a real threat to lives and livelihoods and freedoms if we are not able to contain this third wave of the pandemic outbreak and the disease that it causes in Jamaica,” Mr. Holness added.
Over 600,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccines are being donated by the US Government to Jamaica.
The vaccines will strengthen the island’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.
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Gov’t Considering Further Tightening Of COVID-19 Measures
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2021-08-20 02:15:41+00:00
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2021-08-05 00:00:00
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Health Minister Confident That Vaccines Are Effective Against Delta Strain
Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, has said that vaccines have proven effective against the Delta variant of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
“Vaccines continue to be effective based on what the research is showing against that particular strain and the others. The theme here about getting your vaccination is very relevant and now more so that we have this particular strain. I think we should focus on the fact that it represents our best response to dealing with the threat that is on hand,” he said
Dr. Tufton was addressing a press conference to provide an update on the National Vaccination Implementation Plan, as well as vaccination and the role of faith-based organisations.
The press conference was held on Thursday (August 19) at The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.
On Wednesday (August 18), the Ministry confirmed the presence of the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 in Jamaica.
Twenty-two samples tested positive from 40 results received from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). A total of 60 samples were sent to the Agency.
Dr. Tufton said the results suggest that the strain may in fact be present “in abundance”.
Noting that although it may not be the dominant strain at this time, he said the presence of the Delta variant poses an additional public health threat.
“Based on the science, it spreads a lot quicker and appears to affect all age cohorts, particularly younger people, and could do so in severe ways. And so we have to be cautious and recognise the threat that it represents,” he emphasised.
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Health Minister Confident That Vaccines Are Effective Against Delta Strain
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2021-08-20 01:45:20+00:00
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2021-08-19 19:40:59
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stlracing.com%2F2021%2F08%2F19%2Fdennis-erb-jr-eager-for-quartet-of-woolms-events-following-fals-top-ten%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Ddennis-erb-jr-eager-for-quartet-of-woolms-events-following-fals-top-ten.json
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(CARPENTERSVILLE, ILLINOIS) With last weekend off from the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series grind, Dennis Erb Racing took the opportunity to race closer to home on Saturday night, August 14 at Fairbury Speedway. A weekly ‘FALS Cup’ program was held at the downtown Fairbury, Illinois oval and a $2,500 top prize was up for grabs for the Super Late Model competitors.
On a tacky racing surface after rain showers, Dennis Erb, Jr. clicked off the twelfth fastest lap during the qualifying session before placing sixth in his heat race. After starting the A-Main from the outside of the sixth row, Dennis was able to dodge a couple of incidents and advanced up inside of the top ten to finish eighth in the 30-lap affair. Complete results from FALS can be viewed online by clicking on www.fairburyspeedway.com.
The #28 team had a quick turnaround following the FALS top ten, as they will return to action with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series later tonight, August 19 at Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, New York. A $10,000 winner’s check will be on the line tonight in a rare trip to the Empire State. Three more $10,000 to win specials will then close out a four-race weekend for the team on Friday, August 20 at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, August 21 at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio, and on Sunday, August 22 at Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pennsylvania.
Dennis comes into the quartet of WOOLMS events fourth in the latest version of the national series point standings. The Carpentersville, Illinois ace is the defending race winner at Eriez, as he landed the $10,000 payday in 2020. You can learn more about each of these four races by accessing www.woolms.com or you can watch the racing action LIVE on www.dirtvision.tv.
Dennis would like to thank all of his sponsors including: J.R. McBride Leasing, McBride Mack, Deegan’s Garage, Ideal Ready Mix, VoMac Truck Sales, Performance Rod & Custom (PRC), Midwest Sheet Metal, Keyser Manufacturing, XR1 Rocket Chassis, Vic Hill Racing Engines, Clements Racing Engines, Hoosier Racing Tires, Allstar Performance, Aurora Rod Ends, Beyea Custom Headers, Brinn Transmissions, Butlerbuilt Safety Systems, Collins Signs, Delph Communications, Dyer’s Top Rods, Envy Suspension & Race Consultants, Five Star Performance Bodies, Frankland Racing Supply, Hooker Harness, Hypercoils, Integra Racing Shocks, Jones Racing Products, K&L Motorsports, K-B Carburetors, Outerwears, Out-Pace Racing Products, Peterson Fluid Systems, Quarter Master, Quickcar Racing Products, Simpson Race Products, Sweet Mfg., TWM Racing Products, VP Racing Fuels, Wiles Driveshafts, and Wilwood Engineering.
The latest dirt on the Dennis Erb Racing team can be found all year long at www.DennisErb.com. Be sure to “Like” us on Facebook by clicking on www.facebook.com/denniserbracing.
Media Contact: Ryan Delph – Delph Communications
www.DelphCommunications.com
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Dennis Erb, Jr. Eager for Quartet of WOOLMS Events Following FALS Top Ten
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2021-08-20 01:45:13+00:00
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2021-08-19 19:06:36
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stlracing.com%2F2021%2F08%2F19%2Fdavenport-tripleheader-loaded-with-fan-activities-cant-miss-racing%2F%3Futm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Ddavenport-tripleheader-loaded-with-fan-activities-cant-miss-racing.json
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An all-star lineup of drivers will try to take home $50,000 in total during the new three-day event
DAVENPORT, IA – August 19, 2021 – When the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models bring their high-octane show to Davenport Speedway, Aug. 26-28, fans will be treated to a full itinerary of can’t-miss action.
Along with edge-of-your-seat seat racing from The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet – waging a war of slide jobs throughout the tripleheader weekend to try and collect a $50,000 payday in total – the Quad Cities 150 presented by Hoker Trucking will give fans the opportunity to participate in an assortment of activities.
They’ll have the chance to give back on Thursday, Aug. 26, and Friday, Aug. 27, by participating in the Hoker’s Haul Toys for Tots drive. Fans are encouraged to bring a toy to help fill up the semi-truck parked on the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds.
For those eager to meet their favorite driver, an autograph session will be held on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 4:30pm(CT), featuring the superstars of the sport like three-time and defending champion Brandon Sheppard, two-time Xtreme DIRTcar Series champion Chris Madden, Iowa-natives Ryan Gustin and Tyler Bruening and many more.
There will be live music for fans to enjoy each night after the checkered flag flies. The bands on tap include, Dirt Road Rockers, Just Cuz and Bad Hair.
Other events to keep an eye out for throughout the weekend include:
The 4-City Cornhole Tournament.
Slot car racing.
A virtual racing experience.
The QC Gearheads Drive-In Car Show.
Food trucks will also be parked on the fairgrounds, giving anyone hungry the chance to enjoy different kinds of treats. Drivers racing at the event will also have a sponsored lunch on Friday, Aug. 26, at the Speedway’s Pavilion.
The Quad Cities 150 is the first multi-day show with fans for the Davenport Speedway-K Promotions team since taking over the facility in June 2019.
When it comes to the racing action, Sheppard will look to keep his winning streak at Davenport Speedway alive. The New Berlin, IL driver, swept all three events the Series ran at the track in 2020.
To do so, he’ll have to contend with drivers like championship rival, Madden, the Iowa-standouts Bruening and Gustin, Ricky Weiss, Dennis Erb, Jr. and more.
Joining the World of Outlaws throughout the weekend are the IMCA Modifieds and Sport Mods.
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3y0nGIw
Competitor Notes: https://bit.ly/3j21ppm
If you can’t make it to the track, watch all the action live on DIRTVision with the annual Platinum FAST PASS subscription for $299/year or the monthly FAST PASS subscription for $39/month.
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Davenport tripleheader loaded with fan activities, can’t-miss racing
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[
"John Stroud",
"Jstroud Postindependent.Com"
] |
2021-08-20 01:58:47+00:00
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2021-08-19 19:00:00
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The path is “completely gone” at one spot, a CDOT official said, parts of the path are also underwater in places where the debris flows poured into the Colorado River, pushing the channel to the north over the path and up against the eastbound highway structure.
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Burned logs float in a dammed portion of the Colorado River below the Glenwood Canyon bike path after a flash flood swept a major debris slide down the Devil's Hole drainage near MM124 in July.
Chelsea Self / Post Independent
Among the permanent repairs that will need to be done in Glenwood Canyon from the damage caused by recent mud and debris slides involves the popular recreation path connecting the four rest areas and Shoshone boat launch in the canyon.
The concrete path runs the full 12-mile length of the canyon alongside Interstate 70 and the Colorado River, and is regularly used by cyclists, runners, hikers and people looking to access the river.
It is currently closed to the east of the No Name Rest Area, and has been for much of the summer due to the threat of mudslides from the Grizzly Creek burn scar and safety concerns for trail users.
Parts of the path were severely damaged by the massive mud and debris slides that occurred in late July and early August, which closed I-70 for 15 days. The canyon was closed again Wednesday and into Thursday due to rains.
“Our first focus is the highway and to get it repaired and restored to two lanes of traffic (both directions) by Thanksgiving,” said Keith Stefanik, the Colorado Department of Transportation’s deputy incident commander for the Glenwood Canyon emergency response efforts.
Burned logs float in a dammed portion of the Colorado River below the Glenwood Canyon bike path after a flash flood swept a major debris slide down the Devil's Hole drainage near MM124 in July.
Chelsea Self / Post Independent
Stefanik joined a multi-agency video news conference Wednesday where the U.S. Forest Service announced that the Hanging Lake Trail will remain closed to visitors indefinitely due to extensive trail damage caused by the slides.
Likewise, the recreation path will likely remain closed for some time until repairs can be made, Stefanik said.
“We understand the path is a necessity for the community, but we want to make sure we can open two lanes of traffic in each direction first,” he said.
“There are impacts to the trail all through the canyon,” Stefanik said, adding the path is “completely gone” at mile point 123.5 where I-70 was the most severely damaged.
Parts of the path also are underwater in places where the debris flows poured into the Colorado River, pushing the channel to the north over the path and up against the eastbound highway structure, he said.
“We do have to go in and assess the bike path,” but that’s not part of the initial emergency response, Stefanik said.
“Once we do the emergency repair work we can move on to permanent repairs,” he said. “The bike path will be one of those permanent repair projects.”
As with the interstate repair work, the bike path would be included for funding from the $116 million in federal assistance sought by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis.
In addition, the state and its congressional delegation are seeking emergency assistance for non-roadway impacts via the Stafford Act.
Non-roadway damage assessments are ongoing, but funding could be made available to repair damage to the Colorado River, for rockfall mitigation within the burn scar area on both sides of the river and rebuilding the Hanging Lake Trail.
Funds also could be used to support individuals and small businesses impacted by the slides and resulting canyon closures, CDOT indicated in a Wednesday news release.
Senior Reporter/Managing Editor John Stroud can be reached at 970-384-9160 or jstroud@postindependent.com .
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Glenwood Canyon bike path repairs needed, but full opening of I-70 higher in priority
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[
"Andrew Travers",
"Atravers Aspentimes.Com"
] |
2021-08-20 01:58:41+00:00
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2021-08-19 18:18:00
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspentimes.com%2Fnews%2Fa-grand-finale-concerts-culminate-a-joyous-2021-music-fest-season%2F.json
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Sheku Kanneh-Mason, 22, will perform as soloist with the Aspen Chamber Symphony on Friday evening. Courtesy photo
The young cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason shot to global fame on May 2018 when he performed — for a viewing audience of some 2 billion — at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
A sensation in the music world, the 22-year-old Brit will make his Aspen debut on Friday evening, performing Dvořák’s Celleo Concerto with the Aspen Chamber Symphony in one of the most anticipated classical events of the Aspen Music Festival season.
ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL CLOSING WEEKEND FRIDAY, AUG. 20 9 a.m.: Aspen Chamber Symphony Dress Rehearsal ($20), Benedict Music Tent 4:30 p.m.: Overtures: Pre-concert talk (Free), Harris Concert Hall 5:30 p.m.: Aspen Chamber Symphony ($82), Benedict SATURDAY, AUG. 21 10 a.m.: Opera Theater Master Class ($40), Wheeler Opera House 2 p.m.: Chamber Music ($45), Harris 7 p.m.: Handel’s ‘Rodelinda’ ($85), Harris SUNDAY, AUG. 22 9 a.m.: Aspen Festival Orchestra Press Rehearsal ($20), Benedict 3 p.m.: Prelude: Pre-concert talk (free), Harris 4 p.m.: Aspen Festival Orchestra with Augustin Hadelich ($85), Benedict aspenmusicfestival.com
As Kanneh-Mason tours the U.S. this summer, his mother — Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason — is publishing a memoir detailing their extraordinary musical family, which has includes Sheku’s six successful musician siblings.
IF YOU GO … What: Sheku Kanneh-Mason with the Aspen Chamber Symphony Where: Benedict Music Tent When: Friday, Aug. 20, 5:30 p.m. How much: $82 Tickets: aspenmusicfestival.com More info: Kanneh-Mason will perform Dvořák’s Celleo Concerto in B minor with the orchestra
“House of Music: Rasing the Kanneh-Masons” was published last year in Britain and is coming out this month in the United States as Sheku takes high-profile American stages at the Hollywood Bowl and in Aspen.
The book details the formidable task of balancing seven kids’ schedules of lessons and practices along with their broader educations and activities, while also depicting the parental sacrifice Kadiatu — who dropped a university lecturing gig — and husband, Stuart, made for the kids and for music. It doesn’t shy away from the prejudices and biases the Kanneh-Mason kids, who are Black, faced in the classical music and music education in the U.K.
It’s a portrait of determination, of the nerve-rattling experiences of watching kids reach increasingly rarefied air of the elite music world and increasingly larger stages.
“In the early years, the children had to work extra hard in order to prove that they were good enough to be heard,” she writes. “Now they had to work doubly hard to meet both the rising expectation and the consequent skepticism that came from being hailed in this way.”
As for that royal wedding, Kadiatu recounts how it began with a vague e-mail in late 2018 from Kensington Palace about a “confidential engagement.” Sheku had met and performed for Prince Harry previously at a private concert, but didn’t presume he’d be invited to the royal wedding until he received a personal phone call from Meghan Markle.
“Want to play at my wedding?” she asked. “I’ve been a fan of yours for ages and I didn’t know you were British!”
Kadiatu recounts how, after signing non-disclosure agreements, they were not allowed to tell anyone that Sheku would be peforming at the ceremony for several months.
“I walked around with this private knowledge for so long that it seemed as though I occupied a different timeline from the rest of the world,” Kadiatu writes. “We didn’t tell family members or any friends, keeping completely silent until the news was announced less than a month before the wedding.”
The family had already been celebrating the news of Prince Harry’s engagement to an African-American woman and were already fans of Markle.
“This was utterly extraordinary and celebratory news,” Kadiatu writes. “For us, having Black representation right there in the heart of the monarchy was something we had thought impossible gowing up in the U.K.”
Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason’s memoir “House of Music” will be published in the U.S. on Aug. 31. Courtesy photo
NOTEWORTHY ‘House of Music: Raising the Kanneh-Masons’ Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason 296 pages, paperback; $16.95 Oneworld Publications, August 2021
Sheku also had to cancel his U.S. debut, which had been set for the same day as the wedding, with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.
As they prepared for the big day, the couple invited Sheku to choose music himself and play it for them privately in St. George’s Chapel. He’d chosen “Sicilienne” by Maria Von Paradis, “Apres un Reve” by Faure and “Ave Maria” by Schubert.
The couple walked around the church and listened as he played.
“When Sheku finished playing there was a hush and the couple walked towards him, taking his hand again,” Kadiatu writes. “’That was beautiful,’ Meghan said, ‘and that’s what we’d love for our wedding.”
Despite the honor and his immense talents, though, he remained a teenager dependent on his mom for some basics. The morning of the wedding, she recounts, he called her to report that he’d overcharged his bank account and was unable to buy breakfast, asking mom to come to the rescue and transfer funds.
Kadiatu and the family watch his moving performance on television from their home in Nottingham. As soon as he’s done, mom has to hustle to and then get Sheku’s sisert, Isata, off to a concerto rehearsal of her own.
After the wedding, Sheku’s 2018 debut album “Inspiration” went to No. 1 on the classical charts and rose as high as no. 11 on Britain’s main charts, minting him as the rare classical performer who crosses over into mainstream popularity.
Sheku is the third oldest of the Kanneh-Mason children and, so far, the most famous among them, having been named a 2016 BBC Young Musician — the first Black musician do to so — and, of course, playing the royal wedding.
All seven of them were featured on the reality show “Britain’s Got Talent” in 2015, which was followed by a 2016 BBC documentary film “Young, Gifted and Classical.” As the stages have gotten bigger and the lights of fame brighter, Kadiatu writes, she still often worries after her children as she might have at their first performances. Of sitting down at a high-profile concert Sheku gave at 17, she writes, “I was exhausted, as though I had trekked through a dense forest in the dark, alert to every threatening sound.”
Sheku Kanneh-Mason’s much-anticipated concert is the first in three big-ticket events for the Aspen Music Festival’s closing weekend running Friday to Sunday. Kaneh-Mason’s Friday evening performance is followed by Saturday night’s production of Handel’s opera “Rodelinda” at Harris Concert Hall and by Sunday’s season-closing Aspen Festival Orchestra concert featuring Augustin Hadelich as soloist in Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 and the symphony performing Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony under conductor Robert Spano.
atravers@aspentimes.com
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www.aspentimes.com
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A Grand Finale: Concerts culminate a joyous 2021 Music Fest season
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https://www.aspentimes.com/news/a-grand-finale-concerts-culminate-a-joyous-2021-music-fest-season/
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[
"Dan Haar",
"Jeff Jacobs",
"Susan Campbell",
"Columnist",
"Associate Editor",
"Written By",
"Ignacio Laguarda",
"Pat Tomlinson",
"Veronica Del Valle",
"Brianna Gurciullo"
] |
2021-08-20 01:46:41+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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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stamfordadvocate.com%2Fnews%2Farticle%2FTorrance-officers-charged-with-painting-swastika-16399316.php.json
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en
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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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Torrance officers charged with painting swastika on car
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https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Torrance-officers-charged-with-painting-swastika-16399316.php
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[
"Dan Haar",
"Jeff Jacobs",
"Susan Campbell",
"Columnist",
"Associate Editor",
"Written By",
"Luther Turmelle",
"Alexander Soule",
"Paul Schott"
] |
2021-08-20 01:45:09+00:00
|
2021-08-20 00:24:29
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) —
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stamfordadvocate.com%2Fbusiness%2Farticle%2FFeds-seize-over-3-000-fake-vaccination-cards-in-16399326.php.json
|
en
|
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) —
More than 3,000 fake COVID-19 vaccination cards have been confiscated at cargo freight facilities at the Anchorage airport as they were being shipped from China, officials said Thursday.
Officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized the cards in the past week as they arrived in small packages, said Jaime Ruiz, an agency spokesperson.
There were between 135 and 150 packages found in Anchorage, all sent by the same person in China, Ruiz said. The packages contained small amounts of the fake cards, about 20 or 25 each.
The cards confiscated in Anchorage closely resemble the authentic Centers for Disease Control and Prevention certificates given out by health care workers when U.S. citizens receive their vaccinations, the agency said. However, this shipment had cards that exhibited low-quality printing.
The seizure comes as a cottage industry for counterfeit cards has sprung up online to accommodate people who say they won’t get vaccinated for either personal or religious reasons.
Another 3,600 fake cards were found recently at cargo facilities in Memphis, Tennessee, Ruiz said.
The Federal Aviation Administration ranked Memphis and Anchorage among the busiest cargo airports in the U.S. in 2020.
“Getting these fraudulent cards off the streets and out of the hands of those who would then sell them is important for the safety of the American public,” Lance Robinson, the agency’s director in Anchorage, said in a statement.
Other federal agencies are investigating the shipments.
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Feds seize over 3,000 fake vaccination cards in Anchorage
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https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/business/article/Feds-seize-over-3-000-fake-vaccination-cards-in-16399326.php
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[
"Kathleen Ronayne",
"Michael R. Blood",
"Associated Press",
"Dan Haar",
"Jeff Jacobs",
"Susan Campbell",
"Columnist",
"Associate Editor",
"Written By",
"Ignacio Laguarda"
] |
2021-08-20 01:46:17+00:00
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2021-08-20 01:38:15
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The former fiancee of Larry Elder said Thursday that the...
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stamfordadvocate.com%2Fnews%2Farticle%2FElder-denies-showing-gun-to-woman-during-domestic-16399362.php.json
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en
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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."
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.
“Larry Elder doesn’t have the judgment or character to lead our state,” Faulconer said in response to Datig’s allegations.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The two ultimately signed an agreement on April 13, 2015, for Elder to pay Datig $20,000 and cover the cost of her $5,000 legal retainer and $185 to dry clean her wedding dress. Elder agreed he and his assistant would sign a nondisclosure agreement regarding anything to do with Datig, that he would write her a letter of recommendation for her work product, and that they two would “halt mutual insults."
Datig refers to herself as a sex trafficking survivor and has publicly disclosed working for so-called former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss, who was convicted in the mid-1990s of running a high-priced call-girl ring, a conviction that was later overturned. Fleiss was later sentenced to federal prison for cheating on her taxes and laundering call-girl profits. In a 2013 interview with KCAL-TV, Datig described becoming an informant on Fleiss.
__
Ronayne reported from Sacramento.
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Elder denies showing gun to woman during domestic argument
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[
"Dan Haar",
"Jeff Jacobs",
"Susan Campbell",
"Columnist",
"Associate Editor",
"Written By",
"Ignacio Laguarda",
"Pat Tomlinson",
"Veronica Del Valle",
"Brianna Gurciullo"
] |
2021-08-20 01:45:52+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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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stamfordadvocate.com%2Fnews%2Farticle%2F2-teens-facing-murder-charges-for-deadly-16399395.php.json
|
en
|
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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2 teens facing murder charges for deadly street-racing crash
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https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/2-teens-facing-murder-charges-for-deadly-16399395.php
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|||||
[
"Dan Haar",
"Jeff Jacobs",
"Susan Campbell",
"Columnist",
"Associate Editor",
"Written By",
"Ignacio Laguarda",
"Pat Tomlinson",
"Veronica Del Valle",
"Brianna Gurciullo"
] |
2021-08-20 01:46:23+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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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stamfordadvocate.com%2Fnews%2Farticle%2FJudge-School-officer-who-hid-during-shooting-16399388.php.json
|
en
|
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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Judge: School officer who hid during shooting facing charges
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https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Judge-School-officer-who-hid-during-shooting-16399388.php
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[
"Joe Reedy",
"Ap Sports Writer",
"Dan Haar",
"Jeff Jacobs",
"Susan Campbell",
"Columnist",
"Associate Editor",
"Written By",
"Maggie Vanoni",
"Paul Doyle"
] |
2021-08-20 01:47:19+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...
|
https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stamfordadvocate.com%2Fsports%2Farticle%2FChargers-James-happy-to-go-against-another-16399318.php.json
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en
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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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Chargers' James happy to go against another opponent
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[
"The Associated Press",
"Dan Haar",
"Jeff Jacobs",
"Susan Campbell",
"Columnist",
"Associate Editor",
"Written By",
"Maggie Vanoni",
"Paul Doyle"
] |
2021-08-20 01:47:37+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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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stamfordadvocate.com%2Fsports%2Farticle%2FLEADING-OFF-Ohtani-road-show-to-Cleveland-16399387.php.json
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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.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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LEADING OFF: Ohtani road show to Cleveland; Astros optimism
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https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/sports/article/LEADING-OFF-Ohtani-road-show-to-Cleveland-16399387.php
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[
"Ken Ritter",
"Associated Press",
"Dan Haar",
"Jeff Jacobs",
"Susan Campbell",
"Columnist",
"Associate Editor",
"Written By",
"Ignacio Laguarda",
"Pat Tomlinson"
] |
2021-08-20 01:46:48+00:00
|
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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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stamfordadvocate.com%2Fnews%2Farticle%2FUS-judge-in-Nevada-Felony-deportation-law-16399346.php.json
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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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US judge in Nevada: Felony deportation law unconstitutional
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[
"Beth Harris",
"Ap Sports Writer",
"Dan Haar",
"Jeff Jacobs",
"Susan Campbell",
"Columnist",
"Associate Editor",
"Written By",
"Maggie Vanoni",
"Paul Doyle"
] |
2021-08-20 01:47:00+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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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stamfordadvocate.com%2Fsports%2Farticle%2FBetts-feeling-really-good-eyes-return-soon-to-16399396.php.json
|
en
|
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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Betts feeling 'really good,' eyes return soon to Dodgers
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https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/sports/article/Betts-feeling-really-good-eyes-return-soon-to-16399396.php
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[
"Yuri Kageyama",
"Associated Press",
"Dan Haar",
"Jeff Jacobs",
"Susan Campbell",
"Columnist",
"Associate Editor",
"Written By",
"Nicole Funaro",
"John Atashian"
] |
2021-08-20 01:45:15+00:00
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2021-08-20 00:52:10
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TOKYO (AP) — Japanese actor Sonny Chiba, who wowed the world with his martial arts...
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stamfordadvocate.com%2Fentertainment%2Farticle%2FJapanese-martial-artist-film-star-Sonny-Chiba-16399345.php.json
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en
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TOKYO (AP) — Japanese actor Sonny Chiba, who wowed the world with his martial arts skills in more than 100 films, including “Kill Bill,” has died. He was 82.
Chiba, known in Japan as Shinichi Chiba, died late Thursday in a hospital near Tokyo where he had been treated for COVID-19 since Aug. 8, Tokyo-based Astraia, his management office, said in a statement Friday. It said he had not been vaccinated.
Chiba rose to stardom in Japan in the 1960s, portraying samurai, fighters and police detectives, the anguished so-called “anti-heroes” trying to survive in a violent world. He did many of the stunt scenes himself.
His overseas career took off after his 1970s Japanese film “The Street Fighter” proved popular in the U.S.
American director Quentin Tarantino listed the work as among his “grindhouse,” or low-budget kitsch cinema, favorites.
Tarantino cast Chiba in the role of Hattori Hanzo, a master swordsmith in “Kill Bill.”
Chiba appeared in the 1991 Hollywood film “Aces,” directed by John Glen, as well as in Hong Kong movies.
Chiba’s career also got a boost from the global boom in kung fu films, set off by Chinese legend Bruce Lee, although critics say Chiba tended to exhibit a dirtier, thug-like fighting style than Lee.
“A true action legend. Your films are eternal and your energy an inspiration. #SonnyChiba #RIP,” American actor Lewis Tan said on Twitter.
New York-based writer and director Ted Geoghegan called him “the great Sonny Chiba.”
“Watch one of his films today,” Geoghegan tweeted, followed by images of a fist and a broken heart.
Other fans mournfully filled Twitter threads with clips of his movies and photos.
Born in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, Chiba studied at Nippon Sport Science University trained in various martials arts, earning a fourth-degree black belt in karate.
Chiba set up Japan Action Club in 1980, to develop a younger generation of actors, including protege Hiroyuki Sanada, who is among Hollywood’s most coveted Japanese actors, landing roles in “The Last Samurai” and “Rush Hour 3.”
Chiba is survived by his three children, Juri Manase, Mackenyu Arata and Gordon Maeda, all actors. A wake was canceled as a pandemic measure, and funeral arrangements were still undecided, his office said.
___
Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama
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www.stamfordadvocate.com
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Japanese martial artist film star Sonny Chiba dies at 82
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https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/entertainment/article/Japanese-martial-artist-film-star-Sonny-Chiba-16399345.php
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[
"Doug Feinberg",
"Ap Basketball Writer",
"Dan Haar",
"Jeff Jacobs",
"Susan Campbell",
"Columnist",
"Associate Editor",
"Written By",
"Ignacio Laguarda",
"Pat Tomlinson"
] |
2021-08-20 01:46:35+00:00
|
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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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stamfordadvocate.com%2Fnews%2Farticle%2FSeattle-Storm-to-visit-White-House-celebrate-16399372.php.json
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en
|
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.
___
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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https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Seattle-Storm-to-visit-White-House-celebrate-16399372.php
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[
"Mark Thiessen",
"Associated Press",
"Dan Haar",
"Jeff Jacobs",
"Susan Campbell",
"Columnist",
"Associate Editor",
"Written By",
"Ignacio Laguarda",
"Pat Tomlinson"
] |
2021-08-20 01:46:29+00:00
|
2021-08-20 01:29:19
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Law enforcement officials have completed their investigation...
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stamfordadvocate.com%2Fnews%2Farticle%2FProsecutors-vet-US-Senate-candidate-s-fishing-16399413.php.json
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en
|
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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Prosecutors vet US Senate candidate's fishing license case
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https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Prosecutors-vet-US-Senate-candidate-s-fishing-16399413.php
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[
"Dan Haar",
"Jeff Jacobs",
"Susan Campbell",
"Columnist",
"Associate Editor",
"Written By",
"Maggie Vanoni",
"Paul Doyle"
] |
2021-08-20 01:47:06+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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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stamfordadvocate.com%2Fsports%2Farticle%2FBonner-s-31-points-11-rebounds-lead-Sun-past-16399391.php.json
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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.
___
More AP women’s basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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Bonner's 31 points, 11 rebounds lead Sun past Lynx 82-71
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https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/sports/article/Bonner-s-31-points-11-rebounds-lead-Sun-past-16399391.php
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[
"Shivani Ujjainwal"
] |
2021-08-20 02:09:40+00:00
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2021-08-19 19:45:40
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Womansera magazine is a platform for women to get latest info and tips on fashion, beauty, health and relationship advice. Subscribe to India's No.1 women's magazine!
|
https%3A%2F%2Fwww.womansera.com%2Fanupam-kher-calls-robert-de-niro-godfather-of-acting-says-thank-you-for-the-most-delicious-dinner-an-amazing-evening%2F.json
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Bollywood veteran actor Anupam Kher has shared a series of pictures with his Silver Linings Playbook co-star Robert De Niro and thanked him for ‘the most delicious dinner and an amazing evening’.
Actor Anupam Kher showered praise on Hollywood star Robert De Niro on his 78th birthday and described him as ‘Godfather of acting’. Taking to Instagram, Anupam also wished Robert on the occasion of his 78th birthday, which took place early this week.
In the pictures, Anupam Kher and Robert De Niro posed together for the camera from a hotel room. While Anupam wore a grey shirt paired with black pants, Robert opted for a polo T-shirt, beige pants, and a black jacket. Anupam also gifted him his book Your Best Day Is Today! He tagged his geolocation as The Greenwich Hotel, in New York.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CSuN8FfMhBo/?utm_medium=copy_link
On his Instagram page, Captioning the post, Anupam Kher wrote, “Dear Mr. #DeNiro! Wishing you a very happy and healthy birthday!! May God give you all the happiness in the world. You have inspired generations of actors all over the world. On a personal level, every moment spent with you is most precious and a big learning experience! Thank you for the most delicious dinner and an amazing evening a few days back!! #RobertDeNiro #GodFatherOfActing #Friend #Inspiration #YourBestIsToday.”
Robert de Niro, considered one of the greatest actors of Hollywood, is best known for his versatile performance in The Godfather Part II, Taxi Driver, and Raging Bull.
The actor Anupam Kher, who is presently in the US, has been sharing pictures of his stay. Recently, he posted a video working shirtless in the gym. He had captioned it, “In a way, confidence is like a muscle!! The more you use it, the stronger it gets!! :).” In another post, he gave a glimpse of his upcoming film Shiv Shastri Balboa and wrote, ‘Roads were made for journeys, not destinations.’ 🙂 #ShivShastriBalboa.”
Shiv Shastri Balboa is being shot in the US. Besides Anupam Kher, the film also stars actor Neena Gupta in the lead role.
The movie will be directed by Ajayan Venugopalan. Anupam Kher has various other projects in the pipeline including The Last Show, Mungilal Rocks, and The Kashmir Files.
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www.womansera.com
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Anupam Kher calls Robert De Niro 'Godfather of acting' & says 'Thank you for the most delicious dinner, an amazing evening'. -
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https://www.womansera.com/anupam-kher-calls-robert-de-niro-godfather-of-acting-says-thank-you-for-the-most-delicious-dinner-an-amazing-evening/
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[
"Alexa Bertola"
] |
2021-08-20 02:05:37+00:00
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2021-08-19 18:12:00
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It's been almost one week since the county opened a safe parking lot for people to sleep in their vehicles on Kansas Avenue in San Luis Obispo.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ksby.com%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fslo-county-working-to-spread-the-word-about-safe-overnight-parking-lot.json
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It's been almost one week since the county opened a safe parking lot for people to sleep in their vehicles on Kansas Avenue in San Luis Obispo.
It's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for vehicle and RV parking only.
There are ADA-accessible restrooms and showers on site.
The county says this is the first step toward finding a long-term solution to safe parking and long-term housing for our homeless community.
Check-in at the safe parking lot on Kansas Avenue is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
The County of San Luis Obispo says so far, three to seven vehicles have used it each night, and officials are working to get the word out about this new option.
The safe parking site is a three-month pilot program.
"It was part of a larger response to folks who are either camping in their RVs or sometimes parking overnight in their cars in various streets, in various communities," said Bruce Gibson, San Luis Obispo County District 2 Supervisor.
Supervisor Gibson says now that the site is open, they're working to inform people.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office says they began notifying the growing community on Palisades Avenue in Los Osos on Thursday.
"It is a good positive movement that the community is making and I appreciate the fact that the community is working with what they've got to do the best they can," said Benjamin Kincaid.
Kincaid, who is staying on Palisades Avenue, says Kansas Avenue is out of the way and it's not near any local services.
"A lot of these rigs, they get less than 10 miles a gallon and having to drive into town a couple times a week is prohibitively expensive because a lot of these people live on fixed incomes. They can't afford gas to drive into town all the time," Kincaid said.
He adds that it's hard to access not only by bike but by public transportation. At this time, there are no regularly scheduled bus stops to the site.
Kansas Avenue also prohibits tents and tarps which a number of people along Palisades Avenue call home.
"It's not okay that we are being kicked out of this beautiful community when the people who live in tents, they're the ones that have the most problems mentally and physically or being addicted to drugs. They're not capable of keeping a vehicle," Kincaid added.
For those who decide to utilize the new space, it's meant to serve as a safe and stable place to stay without the requirement of engaging in services.
"The overall goal of the plan is to find real housing for folks," Gibson said.
The county says this is an ongoing effort and they're working on plans to open three more safe parking sites in the future.
The county is coordinating with the 5Cities Homeless Coalition and CAPSLO to provide outreach services and offer case management to those who want it.
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www.ksby.com
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SLO County working to spread the word about safe overnight parking lot
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https://www.ksby.com/news/local-news/slo-county-working-to-spread-the-word-about-safe-overnight-parking-lot
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[
"Scripps National"
] |
2021-08-20 02:05:43+00:00
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2021-08-19 17:57:00
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is banning a pesticide that has been linked ot neurological damage in children.
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is banning a pesticide that has been linked to neurological damage in children.
The agency says chlorpyrifos has been used on certain crops including strawberries, apples, broccoli, and corn since 1965.
It was also used as a household pesticide for roaches and ants until 2020.
“EPA has determined that the current aggregate exposures from use of chlorpyrifos do not meet the legally required safety standard that there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will result from such exposures,” the agency said in a statement.
The EPA said the European Union and Canada have already banned the pesticide.
Several states also restrict its use on foods including California, Hawaii, New York, Maryland, and Oregon, the agency stated.
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www.ksby.com
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EPA bans pesticide over child health concerns
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https://www.ksby.com/news/national/epa-bans-pesticide-over-child-health-concerns
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[
"Wtvr Staff"
] |
2021-08-20 02:05:49+00:00
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2021-08-19 18:27:00
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“To see what people do and the things they do for children, it’s just amazing,” father Brendan Manning said.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ksby.com%2Fnews%2Fnational%2Fgirl-with-leukemia-gets-big-surprise.json
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RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) -- Sophie Manning was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in June 2020.
During one of her treatments at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, one of the medical people mentioned a program being offered in conjunction with Richmond Raceway and the NASCAR Foundation.
“NASCAR is doing things in markets all over the country, like these playset builds, in 15 different markets,” Raceway president Dennis Bickmeier said. “So it’s pretty cool to be one of the markets selected for sure.”
The Raceway got Sophie and her parents out of their home for most of the day, taking laps at the track and making a trip to Dave and Buster’s so a crew could put the set together as a surprise.
Despite some rain showers throughout the day, they pulled it off.
“It just turned out to be such a great fit,” Bickmeier said. “It wasn’t a pre-requisite, but they’re big NASCAR fans as well!”
“To see what people do and the things they do for children, it’s just amazing,” Sophie's father, Brendan Manning said. “It’s brightened her eyes to see the things that have taken place in front of her. It makes us just want to go out and do things for others as well.”
This story was originally reported by Lane Casadonte on WTVR.com.
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www.ksby.com
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Girl with leukemia gets big surprise
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https://www.ksby.com/news/national/girl-with-leukemia-gets-big-surprise
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[] |
2021-08-20 02:06:01+00:00
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2021-08-19 17:41:00
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ksby.com%2Fnews%2Fpositively-central-coast%2Fsan-luis-obispo-car-dealership-gives-away-three-cars.json
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Three families received cars from McCarthy's Car dealership in San Luis Obispo today.
Mccarthy's has been giving away cars since 1997 through the county social services program.
Two Dodge caravans and a Buick sedan were given away.
"(It) primarily works for someone who needs a car,” Mike McCarthy, owner of McCarthy’s Car Dealership said. “Who a car is the missing link, and the car will help get them to their doctor appointments, their schools and provide that piece of their life that they need for transportation."
Auto Experts and The Tire Store in San Luis Obispo also helped inspect and equip the cars in the giveaway.
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www.ksby.com
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San Luis Obispo car dealership gives away three cars
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https://www.ksby.com/news/positively-central-coast/san-luis-obispo-car-dealership-gives-away-three-cars
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[
"Scripps National"
] |
2021-08-20 02:05:55+00:00
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2021-08-19 17:32:00
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Some Democrats who left Texas to block a GOP voting bill have ended a 38-day holdout.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ksby.com%2Fnews%2Fnational%2Ftexas-democrats-return-end-38-day-holdout-over-voting-bill.json
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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Some Democrats who left Texas to block a GOP voting bill have ended a 38-day holdout.
Enough Democrats returned to the state Capitol on Thursday to allow the Texas House to resume work for the first time since mid-July.
That’s when more than 50 Democrats flew to Washington, D.C., in what amounted to a second walkout over Republican efforts to pass new election laws in Texas.
The special session was called after Democrats blocked the elections laws during the regular session. They left the House prior to the end of the session.
However, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called a special session to get the bills passed.
Democrats who left the state and refused to fulfill their duties as lawmakers were threatened with arrest. However, the warrants for their arrest were dissolved Thursday after enough of them showed up to resume work, the Texas Tribune reports.
Republicans are now back on a path to pass new elections laws in Texas before the current special session ends on Sept. 5.
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www.ksby.com
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Texas Democrats return, end 38-day holdout over voting bill
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https://www.ksby.com/news/national/texas-democrats-return-end-38-day-holdout-over-voting-bill
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[
"Mark Kennedy",
"Associated Press",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus",
"De'Anthony Taylor"
] |
2021-08-20 01:49:41+00:00
|
2021-08-16 14:07:20
|
NEW YORK (AP) — Marc Maron, Bill Maher, Michelle Wolf, Ronny Chieng, Colin Quinn and Nick Kroll will headline this year’s New York Comedy Festival, which returns for laughs after last year’s event was canceled due to the pandemic. The weeklong festival this fall will also feature Michelle Buteau, Vir Das, Tim Dillon, Gary Gulman, […]
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arklatexhomepage.com%2Fentertainment-news%2Fmarc-maron-bill-maher-to-headline-new-york-comedy-festival%2F.json
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en
|
This combination photo shows comedians, from left, Marc Maron, Bill Maher, Ronny Chieng and Michelle Wolf, who will headline this year’s New York Comedy Festival. The festival runs from Nov. 8 – 14. Over 200 comedians, late-night hosts and podcast stars will perform in more than 100 shows at places like the Beacon Theatre, Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, Carolines on Broadway and the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden. (AP Photo)
NEW YORK (AP) — Marc Maron, Bill Maher, Michelle Wolf, Ronny Chieng, Colin Quinn and Nick Kroll will headline this year’s New York Comedy Festival, which returns for laughs after last year’s event was canceled due to the pandemic.
The weeklong festival this fall will also feature Michelle Buteau, Vir Das, Tim Dillon, Gary Gulman, Jon Lovett’s Lovett or Leave It, Norm Macdonald, Brian Regan, Andrew Santino and Megan Stalter.
The festival runs Nov. 8-14. Over 200 comedians, late-night hosts and podcast stars will perform in more than 100 shows at places like the Beacon Theatre, Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, Carolines on Broadway and the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.
“We are especially thrilled to bring the festival back this year after having been canceled last year due to the pandemic,” said Caroline Hirsch, founder and owner of the festival and Carolines on Broadway. “It’s been a very long and painful time in general and, specifically, for the live event industry. We are committed not only to bringing the laughter back to New York City.”
Tickets go on sale Aug. 23 at the festival’s website.
___
Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits
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www.arklatexhomepage.com
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Marc Maron, Bill Maher to headline New York Comedy Festival
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https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/entertainment-news/marc-maron-bill-maher-to-headline-new-york-comedy-festival/
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[
"Elliott Rivette",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:58:03+00:00
|
2021-08-16 12:57:36
|
Our team of experts has selected the best wireless gaming mouse out of hundreds of models. Don't buy a wireless gaming mouse before reading these reviews.
|
https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arklatexhomepage.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Felectronics-br%2Fgaming-accessories-br%2Fbest-wireless-gaming-mouse%2F.json
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en
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Which wireless gaming mouse is best?
A wireless gaming mouse provides an adaptable, clean look to your gaming setup while also serving a vital function in gaming activities. There are two main options for a gaming mouse, wired and wireless. Wireless equipment is generally more expensive, but you get what you pay for most of the time.
If you need a gaming mouse that adapts to your personal gaming needs, it can take some work to find the right option for you. Our top choice is the Razer Naga Pro because it is a modular, customizable wireless mouse with tons of programmable buttons and a high-speed, accurate sensor.
What to know before you buy a wireless gaming mouse
What kinds of games do you play?
There are many genres and titles of games. Likewise, there are vast gaming mouses to suit different needs. Some have programmable button layouts optimized for MOBA or MMO titles. Others have super fast or accurate inputs to help your shots in an FPS game hit their mark. Depending on the type of games you enjoy, be sure to look for a wireless gaming mouse that is optimized to fulfill your needs and improve your gaming experience.
Are you a PC gamer or a console gamer?
Generally, if you are looking for a wireless gaming mouse, you are probably a PC user. But console gamers can use a gaming mouse too. A mouse is more accurate for aiming than a controller stick, which has limited range and dead zones. Of course, you will need to be sure that the games you play on the console are compatible with a mouse before you can just plug and play.
If you are an experienced PC gamer, you probably know a bit about what you are looking for already. New PC gamers or people considering switching might need to spend some time practicing and getting comfortable aiming or using a mouse. The benefits of using a gaming mouse are worth it, though.
Wireless mouse vs. wired mouse
Some people prefer wired over wireless and vice-versa. If you do not like wires potentially getting in the way, a wireless mouse is the way to go. If input lag is a big concern for you, getting a wired mouse will be the safer bet.
There are wireless gaming mouse products that do not have issues with input speeds, but you need to understand that a very high-speed, precise piece of equipment will cost you more money. If you are highly competitive or planning to participate in esports, investing in a high-quality gaming mouse will be money well-spent.
What to look for in a quality wireless gaming mouse
There are lots of other companies that produce gaming mouse products. But within the product lines of established tech brands, even across different price points for various budgets and needs, the gaming gear maintains a certain degree of quality.
Less input lag
The best wireless gaming mouse has the least amount of input lag possible. When using a wireless device, the unfortunate fact is that exact one-to-one responses from a computer are not an option. However, it is possible to make inputs so lightning-quick that we cannot even tell the difference, and that is exactly what you want in a gaming mouse. If you make split-second decisions in a fast-paced game, you cannot afford to wait a long time for a slow mouse to respond to your finger.
Comfort and size
A good quality wireless gaming mouse will not just have an ergonomic grip. It will be comfortable for you personally. If you are left-handed, be sure to find a comfortable gaming mouse for your left hand. Not everyone has the same size hands, so make sure your mouse fits comfortably in your palm. Remember that long periods of gaming could cause damage to your hand if you are using a mouse that is not right for you. It would be better to invest a little more in a gaming mouse that is comfortable and safe for you to use than struggle with ill-fitting equipment that would cause medical issues later on.
Adaptability
Some gaming mouse products allow for significant personalization and customization. The adaptability of a mouse is something to look out for, whether that is just visual changes in colorful lighting or functional changes like programmable buttons, adjustable internal weights and modular components that can swap out to provide completely new button layouts. An excellent wireless gaming mouse will offer more than just left-click and right-click, providing its user with a customized device and a competitive gaming edge.
How much you can expect to spend on a wireless gaming mouse
You can find inexpensive wireless gaming mouse products for $15-$30 for a functional gaming tool. A high-quality gaming mouse would go for $50 and up, with wireless tech usually being a bit more pricey.
Wireless gaming mouse FAQ
Does my gaming mouse’s DPI matter?
A. The DPI of a mouse is a way to measure how sensitive your mouse is for detecting a change in movement. Higher DPI equals higher sensitivity in your mouse. However, you can change OS input sensitivity levels or in-game settings to change your sensitivity as well. The level of actual performance improvement that a user would see in higher DPI depends on the individual. You do not necessarily need a mouse with the highest DPI possible. Consider what types of games you play, your skill level, and try adjusting existing settings before seeking a mouse with a higher DPI.
Is a wired mouse better than a wireless gaming mouse?
A. Generally, a low-end wireless gaming mouse will probably not offer the same fast response time. A wired gaming mouse will also be just as affordable, if not cheaper, than the wireless alternatives. However, an expensive wireless mouse can match a wired mouse in response time while also being more versatile. Consider that a good wireless mouse is easier to transport and use at LAN parties or any competitive gaming event. There are pros and cons for both, and the best choice mainly comes down to your personal preference.
What’s the best wireless gaming mouse to buy?
Top wireless gaming mouse
Razer Naga Pro
What you need to know: This highly customizable modular wireless mouse has a powerful optical sensor and multiple button configuration options.
What you’ll love: The side plate of the mouse can be swapped out to provide more or less programmable keys, adapting to the type of game you are playing. In total, it allows for up to 19 additional programmable key bindings. To cut down on any potential input lag, the mouse uses light beam-based actuation instead of a mechanical key switch to register button inputs.
What you should consider: Though it can keep going for 100 hours of gameplay, you must remember to plug it in and let it charge when not in use.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top wireless gaming mouse for the money
Redragon M690-1
What you need to know: The wireless optical Redragon mouse is very affordable and allows for some customization.
What you’ll love: It has adjustable DPI buttons to swap between five settings. It is designed to be ergonomic and has some programmable buttons. The battery life can last up to an impressive 15 months. If you leave it unused for several minutes, to conserve power, it will enter an automatic sleep mode that you can deactivate by pressing any button.
What you should consider: Some customers have experienced issues with their mouse freezing up or having some input lag.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Wireless gaming mouse worth checking out
Logitech G502 Lightspeed
What you need to know: This reliable wireless gaming mouse has a highly accurate sensor and powerplay compatibility, so it can continuously wirelessly charge.
What you’ll love: The powerplay function lets the mouse sit on a corresponding Logitech G mouse pad that will automatically charge the device as long as it sits on the pad. The built-in hero 25K sensor has a free software upgrade available to users. The RGB lighting, 11 programmable buttons and tunable weights allow personalized customization that will tailor the gaming experience to your needs.
What you should consider: Without the specialized charging mousepad, you will need to plug the mouse in to charge. It can still be used as a wired mouse while charging.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Elliott Rivette 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.arklatexhomepage.com
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Best wireless gaming mouse
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https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/gaming-accessories-br/best-wireless-gaming-mouse/
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[
"Elliott Rivette",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:57:50+00:00
|
2021-08-16 16:08:24
|
Our team of experts has selected the best extension cord out of hundreds of options. Don't buy an extension cord before reading these reviews.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arklatexhomepage.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Felectronics-br%2Fcharging-power-br%2Fbest-extension-cord%2F.json
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en
|
You can identify the intended purpose of an extension cord just by the color. White and brown cords are usually only safe for indoor electrical connections, while green, black and bright colors like orange, red or yellow are for outdoor extensions.
Which extension cord is best?
An extension cord’s primary purpose is to extend the reach of your electrical power supply, but not all extension cords can handle the same amount of power safely. Different gauges are available for various purposes. Depending on the amount of power you intend to run through your cables, it needs to handle that energy transfer safely.
That is why our top choice is the Yellow Jacket Heavy-Duty Contractor (50 feet) since it is a heavy-duty 12-gauge, three-pronged cord used professionally for rough conditions. With those heavy-duty extension cords, you can ensure that you will safely direct electrical power to wherever you need it most.
What to know before you buy an extension cord
What are you plugging your extension cord into?
First, you need to consider what you will be using an extension cord to power. Not all appliances, tools or electronic devices require the same amount of electricity. Before you purchase and plug in a cord, make sure that both the outlet and your extension cord can safely handle the electrical needs of anything you intend to power.
Also, note that cords with grounded, three-prong plugs will cost more than cords with only two prongs. Low gauge cords are thicker and cost more than thinner extension cords because they handle heavier-duty jobs.
Will the cord be placed inside or outside?
Not all extension cords are safe to use outdoors, so be careful not to bring a cord outside that is only intended for simple, low-amp indoor tasks. Cords that are safe for outdoor use will often be more expensive because of the level of safety needed to prevent fires and other problems while exposing the cord to the elements.
How many devices or appliances are you planning to plug in?
Be careful that your extension cord can handle all of the devices that you plug into it. Consider that if the distance between the outlet and the electrical devices is not the problem, an extension cord may not even be right for you. You may need an outlet splitter to help your wall outlet handle more individual devices. Extension cords are best for transferring energy from an outlet to an electrical device or devices that are too far away to reach usually.
How much you can expect to spend on an extension cord
Depending on the length and purpose of the extension cord, the price will vary. For lighter duty indoor and outdoor cords, expect to pay around $5-$20. If you are looking for high-quality, professional-grade gear, it will probably be closer to a $25-$70 range, depending on exactly how long you need your cord to be.
Extension cord FAQ
What is an amp and why does that matter?
A. An amp, or ampere, is the measurement of electricity flowing through your cord’s wiring. Differently sized wires can handle different amounts of amps. The length and gauge of a cord affect how many amps your cord can take safely. Be sure that you check the amps any appliance or equipment needs and that it does not go beyond what your cords can safely handle. This is crucial to prevent damage to your cords, devices and to stop potential fire hazards before they can happen.
Can I plug more extension cords or splitters into my extension cord?
A. For your safety, be sure that you only plug appliances or other cords that would stay within a cord’s maximum capacity for power transmission. If you use something that exceeds your cord’s limits, the cord can overheat and start an electrical fire. If you need to attach more than one extension cord to each other, try to ensure they all have the same AWG rating.
What’s the best extension cord to buy?
Top extension cord
Yellow Jacket Heavy-Duty Contractor
What you need to know: It is a heavy-duty professional extension cord for tough conditions that will hold up to heat and cold.
What you’ll love: It is a 12 gauge cord with three-prong ends. The bright cord color makes it hard to lose track of in an outdoor environment, and the plug is a bit oversized for a safe and easy grip. It works with heavy equipment and power tools, resistant to abrasion and damage at any temperature.
What you should consider: It is a bit heavier, so it may be a bit more challenging to move around and maneuver than lighter extension cords.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top extension cord for the money
GoGreen Outdoor
What you need to know: This lighter duty, 16 gauge extension cord is safe for outdoor use at an affordable price.
What you’ll love: The cord resists sunlight and moisture in addition to abrasion resistance. One end of the cord lights up for safety and to make the cord easier to use. It is not heavy-duty, but it is still safe for use in outdoor conditions. The cord prevents any kink or tangle from forming accidentally.
What you should consider: Quality control has found that on rare occasions, copies of this product have reached the consumer without a functional light at the end of the cord.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Kasonic 3-Outlet
What you need to know: The two extension cords included are great for indoor use and provide additional three-prong outlets where you need them.
What you’ll love: Each cord has three separate three-prong outlets at the end for you to plug in your devices. The cords have a 10-year warranty. At the end of the cord is a built-in hook so you can secure your extension cord wherever it needs to be. The plug for your outlet can also fit nicely between a piece of furniture and the wall.
What you should consider: Because of the design, you can only use one per standard outlet in your home. This may be an inconvenience for some, but if you need an extension cord with many outlets, it would be essential to find one specifically designed to handle that much electricity safely.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Elliott Rivette 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.arklatexhomepage.com
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Best extension cord
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https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/charging-power-br/best-extension-cord/
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[
"Yuri Kageyama",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:53:53+00:00
|
2021-08-16 11:21:47
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TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s “state of emergency” for curbing surging COVID-19 cases will continue through Sept. 12 rather than ending at the end of this month as initially planned, the government decided Monday With the pandemic continuing to spread in the country, the emergency for Tokyo, Osaka, Okinawa, and three other regions which started in […]
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arklatexhomepage.com%2Fnews%2Fu-s-world%2Fjapan-extends-expands-coronavirus-emergency-as-cases-surge%2F.json
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en
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Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga speaks to reporters about the extension of a state of emergency at his official residence in Tokyo Monday, Aug. 16, 2021. The emergency for curbing surging COVID-19 cases will continue through Sept. 12 rather than ending at the end of this month as initially planned, the government decided Monday. (Yoshitaka Sugawara/Kyodo News via AP)
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s “state of emergency” for curbing surging COVID-19 cases will continue through Sept. 12 rather than ending at the end of this month as initially planned, the government decided Monday
With the pandemic continuing to spread in the country, the emergency for Tokyo, Osaka, Okinawa, and three other regions which started in July would be prolonged and expanded.
The measures were enforced throughout the recently-concluded Tokyo Olympics, which took place with no spectators from the general public allowed in the stands. With the latest extension, they emergency will remain in force the Tokyo Paralympics, which open Aug. 24 and close on Sept. 5.
“The surge in infections is reaching alarming record highs,” , Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters after meeting with other ministers about the move.
The decision will become official Tuesday, Suga said, adding that beefing up hospital care was “a priority,” and people waiting at home to get hospitalized were getting checkups by phone.
Japan’s emergency centers around asking eateries and bars to close at 8:00 p.m. and to not serve alcohol. The measure will also be expanded to apply to several prefectures such as Kyoto, Hyogo and Fukuoka, currently under a less severe cautionary “quasi-emergency.”
Daily reported cases have been reaching record highs in many areas, hovering at about 5,000 each day during the last week for Tokyo. The tally was lower on Monday at under 3,000, but still a a record for a Monday, when, which cover the previous 24 hours are generally lower following the weekend.
Local mayors and governors have prodded the national government to get emergencies declared to send a stronger message to discourage people from going out.
“We feel the situation has reached an extremely serious and critical state that puts human life at risk,” said Eikei Suzuki, governor of Mie Prefecture, central Japan, where numbers of infections have jumped lately.
Only about a third of the nation’s population has been fully vaccinated even while the highly infectious delta variant is reportedly spreading. Japan’s vaccine rollout got off to a relatively late start and is proceeding at a pace that’s one of the slowest among industrialized nations.
Critics say the government has not done enough to respond to the coronavirus crisis in organizing the hospital system overall to accommodate those with COVID-19.
Japan has had more than 15,000 COVID-19 related deaths and worries have been growing about the health care system becoming increasingly stretched thin. Japanese media reports have shown people stuck in ambulances for hours looking for a hospital to accept them.
A man in his 30s who lived alone died of the coronavirus recently after his condition suddenly deteriorated, despite having earlier visited a hospital, TBS News reported. The Health Ministry said the number of seriously ill people has now reached a record 1,603 people nationwide.
Violent protests are extremely rare in Japan, where public order and conformity are highly valued. However, surveys and on-the-street interviews show public discontent is simmering because the government has gone ahead with holding the Olympics and Paralympics, allowing tens of thousands of athletes, corporate sponsors and sports officials to enter the country. The events have also required thousands of medical staff, and massive virus testing is being provided to athletes free of charge.
___
Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama
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Japan extends, expands coronavirus emergency as cases surge
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[
"Joseph Krauss",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:54:35+00:00
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2021-08-16 11:59:42
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The Taliban have seized power in Afghanistan two weeks before the U.S. was set to complete its troop withdrawal after a costly two-decade war. The insurgents stormed across the country, capturing all major cities in a matter of days, as Afghan security forces trained and equipped by the U.S. and its allies melted away. Here’s […]
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en
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A U.S. Chinook helicopter flies over the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. Helicopters are landing at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul as diplomatic vehicles leave the compound amid the Taliban advanced on the Afghan capital. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
The Taliban have seized power in Afghanistan two weeks before the U.S. was set to complete its troop withdrawal after a costly two-decade war.
The insurgents stormed across the country, capturing all major cities in a matter of days, as Afghan security forces trained and equipped by the U.S. and its allies melted away.
Here’s a look at what happened and what comes next:
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN AFGHANISTAN?
The Taliban, a militant group that ran the country in the late 1990s, have again taken control.
The U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 ousted the insurgents from power, but they never left. After they blitzed across the country in recent days, the Western-backed government that has run the country for 20 years collapsed. Afghans, fearing for the future, are racing to the airport, one of the last routes out of the country.
___
WHY ARE PEOPLE FLEEING THE COUNTRY?
They’re worried that the country could descend into chaos or the Taliban could carry out revenge attacks against those who worked with the Americans or the government.
Many also fear the Taliban will reimpose the harsh interpretation of Islamic law that they relied on when they ran Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. Back then, women were barred from attending school or working outside the home. They had to wear the all-encompassing burqa and be accompanied by a male relative whenever they went outside. The Taliban banned music, cut off the hands of thieves and stoned adulterers.
The Taliban have sought to present themselves as a more moderate force in recent years and say they won’t exact revenge, but many Afghans are skeptical of those promises.
___
WHY ARE THE TALIBAN TAKING OVER NOW?
Probably because U.S. troops are set to withdraw by the end of the month.
The U.S. has been trying to get out of Afghanistan, its longest war, for several years now.
American troops ousted the Taliban in a matter of months when they invaded to root out al-Qaida, which orchestrated the 9/11 attacks while being harbored by the Taliban. But it proved more difficult to hold territory and rebuild a nation battered by repeated wars.
As the U.S. focus shifted to Iraq, the Taliban began to regroup and in recent years took over much of the Afghan countryside.
Last year, then-President Donald Trump announced a plan to pull out and signed a deal with the Taliban that limited U.S. military action against them. President Joe Biden then announced that the last troops would leave by the end of August.
As the final deadline drew close, the Taliban began a lightning offensive, overrunning city after city.
___
WHY DID THE AFGHAN SECURITY FORCES COLLAPSE?
The short answer? Corruption.
The U.S. and its NATO allies spent billions of dollars over two decades to train and equip Afghan security forces. But the Western-backed government was rife with corruption. Commanders exaggerated the number of soldiers to siphon off resources, and troops in the field often lacked ammunition, supplies or even food.
Their morale further eroded when it became clear the U.S. was on its way out. As the Taliban rapidly advanced in recent days entire units surrendered after brief battles, and Kabul and some nearby provinces fell without a fight.
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WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PRESIDENT OF AFGHANISTAN?
He fled.
President Ashraf Ghani hunkered down and made few public statements as the Taliban swept across the country. On Sunday, as they reached the capital, he left Afghanistan, saying he had chosen to leave to avoid further bloodshed. It’s not clear where he went.
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WHY ARE PEOPLE COMPARING AFGHANISTAN TO THE FALL OF SAIGON?
The Fall of Saigon to North Vietnamese forces in 1975 marked the end of the Vietnam War. It became an enduring symbol of defeat after thousands of Americans and their Vietnamese allies were airlifted out of the city on helicopters. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has rejected any comparisons to Afghanistan, saying: “This is manifestly not Saigon.”
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WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT IN AFGHANISTAN?
It’s not clear.
The Taliban say they want to form an “inclusive, Islamic government” with other factions. They are holding negotiations with senior politicians, including leaders in the former government.
They have pledged to enforce Islamic law but say they will provide a secure environment for the return of normal life after decades of war.
But many Afghans distrust the Taliban and fear that their rule will be violent and oppressive. One sign that worries people is that they want to rename the country the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, which is what they called it the last time they ruled.
___
WHAT DOES THE TALIBAN TAKEOVER MEAN FOR WOMEN?
Many fear it could mean a severe rollback of rights.
Afghan women have made major gains since the overthrow of the Taliban. Many are worried they will once again be confined to their homes. The Taliban have said they are no longer opposed to women attending school but have not set out a clear policy on women’s rights. Afghanistan remains an overwhelmingly conservative country, especially outside major cities, and the status of women often varied, even under Taliban rule.
___
WILL THE TALIBAN ONCE AGAIN HARBOR AL-QAIDA?
That’s anyone’s guess, but American military officials are worried.
In the peace deal signed with the United States last year, the Taliban pledged to fight terrorism and prevent Afghanistan from again becoming a base for attacks. But the U.S. has little leverage to enforce that.
Technological advances over the last 20 years allow the United States to target suspected militants in countries like Yemen and Somalia where it does not have a permanent troop presence. The Taliban paid a heavy price for their role in the Sept. 11 attacks and likely hope to avoid a repeat as they seek to consolidate their rule.
But earlier this year, the Pentagon’s top leaders said an extremist group like al-Qaida may be able to regenerate in Afghanistan, and officials are now warning that such groups could grow much faster than expected.
Afghanistan is also home to an Islamic State group affiliate that has carried out a wave of horrific attacks targeting its Shiite minority in recent years. The Taliban have condemned such attacks and the two groups have fought each other over territory, but it remains to be seen whether a Taliban government will be willing or able to suppress IS.
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EXPLAINER: The Taliban takeover, what’s next for Afghanistan
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https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/news/u-s-world/taliban-take-over-afghanistan-what-we-know-and-whats-next/
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[
"Derek Walborn",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:46:14+00:00
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2021-08-17 10:01:15
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Hamsters are commonly kept as pets because they are gentle, low maintenance and don’t take up a lot of space.
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Syrian hamsters are very protective of their territory and should not be kept in the same cage as other hamsters.
Which hamster cage is best?
Hamsters are commonly kept as pets because they are gentle, low maintenance and don’t take up a lot of space. However, their small size does not mean that they don’t require special consideration when it comes to selecting the best hamster cage.
Hamsters need an environment with enough room to allow them to exercise, hide, explore and play. Adequate ventilation is also critical when it comes to a hamster’s health. A wire cage with a variety of fun accessories, such as the Savic Hamster Heaven Metro Cage, is the best option to cover all of your pet’s requirements while keeping them safe and happy.
What to know before you buy a hamster cage
Types of hamster cages
There are three basic types of hamster cage: wire, plastic and aquarium. Each of these different cage options has pros and cons to consider.
Wire: Traditional wire cages offer your pet great ventilation and visibility. They are also easy to clean and the bars may allow your hamster some climbing exercise. Select a cage with bars that don’t have enough space between them to allow your hamster to escape.
Unfortunately, wire cages need to be opened and closed carefully to avoid scaring or stressing your pet due to the noise inherent to their metal construction. Wire cages also allow your pet to throw any bedding material or food pieces outside of its home, which makes keeping the area around the cage a challenge. Your hamster may also chew the metal cage bars, which can lead to tooth injury.
Plastic: Plastic cages come in a variety of exciting colors and modular configurations. They are easily expandable, which makes it easy to provide your hamster with new environments and obstacles to explore. Modular plastic models are great for people interested in DIY hamster cages.
However, hamsters tend to damage plastic cages with their chewing. Plastic cages also lack ventilation and their tubes and tunnels can be difficult to clean.
Aquarium: Many hamster owners choose glass aquariums for their pets because they offer minimal opportunities for escape. An aquarium will require a mesh or screen lid to allow for ventilation. The lid must be tightly affixed or weighted in order to prevent the hamster from lifting it up and finding a way out.
A downside to using a glass aquarium is that they are much heavier than the alternatives. You also need to be sure that any toys or accessories you provide your pet with are suitable to be safely kept in a glass enclosure.
What to look for in a quality hamster cage
Consider the following hamster cage features to ensure that you provide your pet with a fun, healthy environment.
Size
Hamsters spend most of the day resting. However, they are active, curious animals that do most of their moving around at night. Purchase the biggest hamster cage you can afford that will still fit in your space to allow your pet ample room to explore.
Safety
Hamsters are small, delicate animals. Make sure that your cage and accessories don’t have any sharp, jagged edges that could potentially injure your hamster. Hamsters can be hurt when trying to escape, so ensure that your cage is free of ways for your pet to become stuck or fall.
Ventilation
Hamsters require fresh air and a well-ventilated environment to prevent illness and lethargy. Avoid any cages that are tightly sealed or lack space to allow airflow.
Accessories
Many hamster cages come as kits that include water bottles, food bowls, tunnels and shelters. While these are convenient, some people like to create their own environment for their pet by selecting accessories to fit their preferences. When purchasing a home for your hamster, prioritize the size and quality of the cage itself over included accessories. These can be easily added later.
Maintenance
Hamsters require regular cage cleaning to prevent odor and maintain good health. A hamster cage that is easy to clean and doesn’t require a lot of disassembly will make this task much easier.
Accessibility
It’s important to be able to easily access the interior of your hamster cage for cleaning, feeding and playing with your pet. Look for a cage that has a door or opening large enough to allow your hands to fit through comfortably but small enough so as to not allow your hamster a chance to escape.
How much you can expect to spend on a hamster cage
Hamster cage prices range from $15 for small models that may not provide adequate room for your pet all the way up to $100 or more for big cages with high-quality construction. Prioritize your pet’s needs over the temptation to keep costs low.
Hamster cage FAQ
Q. How large should my hamster cage be?
A. Hamsters love to run and exercise. According to experts, hamsters may cover as much as 5 miles in a single night. Minimum size requirements vary by species, but the National Hamster Council generally agrees that a Syrian hamster should have 155 square inches of floor space, whereas a dwarf hamster can have 124 square inches of floor space. As a general rule, big hamster cages are better.
Q. Will my hamster be able to escape through the bars of a wire cage?
A. Hamsters are expert escape artists, so it’s imperative to make sure the space between the bars of a wire cage is too small to allow them to squeeze through. The space between the bars on a cage used to house a Syrian hamster should never exceed half an inch. Due to their small size, finding a wire cage with spaces small enough to prevent a dwarf hamster from escaping is difficult. These tiny animals are best kept in either plastic cages or glass aquariums.
Q. Why is my hamster acting different today?
A. If your hamster has stopped eating or is no longer active, it could be a sign of sickness. Hamsters can become ill if their cages are not properly ventilated or if they are being kept in the wrong kind of bedding. Either can cause respiratory problems in your pet. Changes in your hamster’s behavior should be brought to the attention of a veterinarian.
What’s the best hamster cage to buy?
Top hamster cage
Savic Hamster Heaven Metro Cage
What you need to know: This wire cage contains a great collection of accessories and toys, making it an excellent choice for those who want to give their hamster a deluxe environment.
What you’ll love: This cage has enough room for multiple hamsters and includes accessories for climbing, eating, sleeping, exercising and more. It includes adjustable tubes and platforms.
What you should consider: This cage can be time-consuming to properly clean and is a bit on the expensive side compared to other options. Some users have also noted quality control issues with this model.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top hamster cage for the money
Ferplast Favola Hamster Cage
What you need to know: This cage was designed specifically for hamsters and is a great upgrade for those looking to give their pet a new home.
What you’ll love: Many great accessories, including a well-designed exercise wheel, are included with this kit.
What you should consider: This cage may be too small for larger hamster species. Some users have complained of its flimsy construction.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Chewy
Worth checking out
Prevue Pet Products Hamster Haven
What you need to know: This fun, affordable cage is large enough for most hamsters and its multiple levels provide your pet with many exercise opportunities.
What you’ll love: This cage has enough space for two hamsters. It is easy to clean and the cage’s deep floor pan prevents food and litter from being tossed outside.
What you should consider: The metal bars on this model are easily bent, and the included accessories are of generally poor quality.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Chewy
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Derek Walborn 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 hamster cages
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[
"Robert Burns",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:56:04+00:00
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2021-08-16 20:09:27
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Built and trained at a two-decade cost of $83 billion, Afghan security forces collapsed so quickly and completely — in some cases without a shot fired — that the ultimate beneficiary of the American investment turned out to be the Taliban. They grabbed not only political power but also U.S.-supplied firepower — […]
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Taliban fighters stand guard in front of the Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 16, 2021. Thousands of people packed into the Afghan capital’s airport on Monday, rushing the tarmac and pushing onto planes in desperate attempts to flee the country after the Taliban overthrew the Western-backed government. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Built and trained at a two-decade cost of $83 billion, Afghan security forces collapsed so quickly and completely — in some cases without a shot fired — that the ultimate beneficiary of the American investment turned out to be the Taliban. They grabbed not only political power but also U.S.-supplied firepower — guns, ammunition, helicopters and more.
The Taliban captured an array of modern military equipment when they overran Afghan forces who failed to defend district centers. Bigger gains followed, including combat aircraft, when the Taliban rolled up provincial capitals and military bases with stunning speed, topped by capturing the biggest prize, Kabul, over the weekend.
A U.S. defense official on Monday confirmed the Taliban’s sudden accumulation of U.S.-supplied Afghan equipment is enormous. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and so spoke on condition of anonymity. The reversal is an embarrassing consequence of misjudging the viability of Afghan government forces — by the U.S. military as well as intelligence agencies — which in some cases chose to surrender their vehicles and weapons rather than fight.
The U.S. failure to produce a sustainable Afghan army and police force, and the reasons for their collapse, will be studied for years by military analysts. The basic dimensions, however, are clear and are not unlike what happened in Iraq. The forces turned out to be hollow, equipped with superior arms but largely missing the crucial ingredient of combat motivation.
“Money can’t buy will. You cannot purchase leadership,” John Kirby, chief spokesman for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, said Monday.
Doug Lute, a retired Army lieutenant general who help direct Afghan war strategy during the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations, said that what the Afghans received in tangible resources they lacked in the more important intangibles.
“The principle of war stands — moral factors dominate material factors,” he said. “Morale, discipline, leadership, unit cohesion are more decisive than numbers of forces and equipment. As outsiders in Afghanistan, we can provide materiel, but only Afghans can provide the intangible moral factors.”
By contrast, Afghanistan’s Taliban insurgents, with smaller numbers, less sophisticated weaponry and no air power, proved a superior force. U.S. intelligence agencies largely underestimated the scope of that superiority, and even after President Joe Biden announced in April he was withdrawing all U.S. troops, the intelligence agencies did not foresee a Taliban final offensive that would succeed so spectacularly.
“If we wouldn’t have used hope as a course of action, … we would have realized the rapid drawdown of U.S. forces sent a signal to the Afghan national forces that they were being abandoned,” said Chris Miller, who saw combat in Afghanistan in 2001 and was acting secretary of defense at the end of President Donald Trump’s term.
Stephen Biddle, a professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University and a former adviser to U.S. commanders in Afghanistan, said Biden’s announcement set the final collapse in motion.
“The problem of the U.S. withdrawal is that it sent a nationwide signal that the jig is up — a sudden, nationwide signal that everyone read the same way,” Biddle said. Before April, the Afghan government troops were slowly but steadily losing the war, he said. When they learned that their American partners were going home, an impulse to give up without a fight “spread like wildfire.”
The failures, however, go back much further and run much deeper. The United States tried to develop a credible Afghan defense establishment on the fly, even as it was fighting the Taliban, attempting to widen the political foundations of the government in Kabul and seeking to establish democracy in a country rife with corruption and cronyism.
Year after year, U.S. military leaders downplayed the problems and insisted success was coming. Others saw the handwriting on the wall. In 2015 a professor at the Army War College’s Strategic Studies Institute wrote about the military’s failure to learn lessons from past wars; he subtitled his book, “Why the Afghan National Security Forces Will Not Hold.”
“Regarding the future of Afghanistan, in blunt terms, the United States has been down this road at the strategic level twice before, in Vietnam and Iraq, and there is no viable rationale for why the results will be any different in Afghanistan,” Chris Mason wrote. He added, presciently: “Slow decay is inevitable, and state failure is a matter of time.”
Some elements of the Afghan army did fight hard, including commandos whose heroic efforts are yet to be fully documented. But as a whole the security forces created by the United States and its NATO allies amounted to a “house of cards” whose collapse was driven as much by failures of U.S. civilian leaders as their military partners, according to Anthony Cordesman, a longtime Afghanistan war analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The Afghan force-building exercise was so completely dependent on American largesse that the Pentagon even paid the Afghan troops’ salaries. Too often that money, and untold amounts of fuel, were siphoned off by corrupt officers and government overseers who cooked the books, creating “ghost soldiers” to keep the misspent dollars coming.
Of the approximately $145 billion the U.S. government spent trying to rebuild Afghanistan, about $83 billion went to developing and sustaining its army and police forces, according to the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, a congressionally created watchdog that has tracked the war since 2008. The $145 billion is in addition to $837 billion the United States spent fighting the war, which began with an invasion in October 2001.
The $83 billion invested in Afghan forces over 20 years is nearly double last year’s budget for the entire U.S. Marine Corps and is slightly more than what Washington budgeted last year for food stamp assistance for about 40 million Americans.
In his book, “The Afghanistan Papers,” journalist Craig Whitlock wrote that U.S. trainers tried to force Western ways on Afghan recruits and gave scant thought to whether U.S. taxpayers dollars were investing in a truly viable army.
“Given that the U.S. war strategy depended on the Afghan army’s performance, however, the Pentagon paid surprisingly little attention to the question of whether Afghans were willing to die for their government,” he wrote.
—
AP writers Nomaan Merchant, Lorne Cook in Brussels and James LaPorta in Boca Raton, Florida, contributed to this report.
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Billions spent on Afghan army ultimately benefited Taliban
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https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/news/us-politics/billions-spent-on-afghan-army-ultimately-benefitted-taliban/
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[
"Josh Funk",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:51:04+00:00
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2021-08-16 22:38:07
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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Billionaire Warren Buffett’s company has again increased the size of its bet on grocery giant Kroger, while scaling back several of its health care industry investments. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. said in a quarterly update with regulators Monday that it picked up nearly 11 million shares of Kroger stock during the second […]
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FILE – This June 17, 2014, file photo, shows a Kroger store in Houston. Billionaire Warren Buffett’s company has again increased the size of its bet on grocery giant Kroger, while scaling back several of its health care industry investments. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. said in a quarterly update with regulators Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, that it picked up nearly 11 million shares of Kroger stock during the second quarter, raising its holdings to 61.8 million shares. Buffett’s company has been steadily adding to its Kroger holdings in recent quarters. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Billionaire Warren Buffett’s company has again increased the size of its bet on grocery giant Kroger, while scaling back several of its health care industry investments.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. said in a quarterly update with regulators Monday that it picked up nearly 11 million shares of Kroger stock during the second quarter, raising its holdings to 61.8 million shares. Buffett’s company has been steadily adding to its Kroger holdings in recent quarters.
Berkshire also sold off its 643,022 shares of biotechnology firm Biogen and cut its investments in drugmakers Merck, Abbvie Inc. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. At the same time, Berkshire reported a new 1.6 million share stake in Merck spinoff Organon & Co.
During the quarter, Berkshire also sold its nearly 14 million shares of paint maker Axalta Coating Systems to eliminate that holding.
Many investors follow the company’s investments closely because of Buffett’s remarkably successful track record.
Berkshire officials, however, don’t generally comment on these quarterly filings. And the quarterly filing doesn’t make clear which investments Buffett made. The billionaire handles the biggest investments in Berkshire’s portfolio, such as Apple, Coca-Cola and Bank of America. He has said that investments of less than $1 billion are likely to be the work of Berkshire’s two other investment managers.
Berkshire also reduced its stake in automaker General Motors by 7 million shares to 60 million shares. And it trimmed its holdings in oil producer Chevron, professional services firm Marsh & McLennan, US Bancorp and media company Liberty Global.
The biggest investments in Berkshire’s portfolio, Apple and Bank of America, remained unchanged during the second quarter.
Besides investments, the Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire owns more than 90 companies outright, including BNSF railroad, Geico insurance and several major utilities. The conglomerate also owns manufacturing, furniture, shoe, jewelry, chocolate, underwear and brick companies.
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Buffett’s firm ups Kroger stake while trimming drug holdings
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https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/news/business/buffetts-firm-ups-kroger-stake-while-trimming-drug-holdings/
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[
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus",
"De'Anthony Taylor"
] |
2021-08-20 01:51:59+00:00
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2021-08-16 20:24:44
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T-Mobile says it is 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 has confirmed there was unauthorized access to “some T-Mobile data” but was still determining the scope of the breach and who was affected. […]
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T-Mobile says it is 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 has confirmed there was unauthorized access to “some T-Mobile data” but was still determining the scope of the breach and who was affected. It also said it was confident that it has closed the entry point used to gain access.
Vice’s Motherboard reported Sunday that someone who posted in an underground forum was offering to sell personal data from more than 100 million people.
The Vice report says the data includes Social Security numbers, phone numbers, names, physical addresses, unique device identifiers and driver license information.
T-Mobile said in an emailed statement Monday that it hasn’t yet determined if any personal customer data was involved and could not confirm the reported number of records affected.
“We take the protection of our customers very seriously and we are conducting an extensive analysis alongside digital forensic experts to understand the validity of these claims, and we are coordinating with law enforcement,” it said.
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.
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T-Mobile confirms data breach, says it’s investigating scope
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https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/news/tech-news/t-mobile-confirms-data-breach-says-its-investigating-scope/
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[
"Sophia Eppolito",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:55:31+00:00
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2021-08-16 21:52:56
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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah reptile center employee is recovering after an alligator yanked her into its enclosure during a presentation, thrashing her around before a fast-acting visitor leapt inside and helped free her from its jaws. Video taken by a guest shows an unidentified handler at Scales & Tails Utah, in suburban […]
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The entrance of Scales and Tails Utah is shown Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, in West Valley City, Utah. A Utah reptile center employee is recovering after an alligator yanked her into its enclosure during a presentation, and a visitor leapt in after her and freed her from its jaws. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah reptile center employee is recovering after an alligator yanked her into its enclosure during a presentation, thrashing her around before a fast-acting visitor leapt inside and helped free her from its jaws.
Video taken by a guest shows an unidentified handler at Scales & Tails Utah, in suburban Salt Lake City, talking to some adults and children about the alligator Saturday when it bit her hand and dragged her into the water.
Shane Richins, the company’s owner, said in an interview Monday that the handler was opening the enclosure to feed the alligator as usual, but this time the reptile “got a little extra spunky.”
He said the center normally has a strict policy for a second handler to be nearby when employees are working with the alligators. But that hasn’t been enforced in recent years if the worker isn’t planning to enter the enclosure, he said.
“We still enforce it strictly whenever somebody gets in with the gator but, of course, going forward, we will be back to strictly enforcing it with any interactions with the gator for that very reason,” Richins said.
After pulling the handler into its pen, the alligator began whipping around and kept its jaws clamped on her as she struggled to break free.
One of the guests, later identified as Donnie Wiseman, yelled “We’ve got trouble in here!” before jumping into the water and climbing on top of the reptile.
Another bystander ushered the children away as they cried, the video showed.
Wiseman got the alligator pinned, and the handler calmly gave him and another man, Todd Christopher, instructions to help her escape from the pool. Wiseman stayed on top of the reptile until after the woman was free.
Christopher’s wife, who has a background in nursing, then began performing first aid before emergency crews arrived.
Richins said the handler underwent surgery and is taking antibiotics. The West Valley City business said Sunday she is “doing well and is in recovery.” According to its website, Scales & Tails Utah is a family-run operation that provides educational presentations on reptiles, birds, spiders and scorpions.
It hailed the visitors who rushed to the handler’s aid.
“These gentlemen could have stayed in the safety zone as most of us would, but instead jumped into the situation, of their own volition, and helped secure the alligator,” the company said in a statement. “Their help, combined with the training of our staff member, probably saved her life and her limbs.”
___
Eppolito is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
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Alligator handler recovering after attack, daring rescue
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https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/news/u-s-world/visitors-save-handlers-life-and-limbs-in-alligator-attack/
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[
"Jake Seiner",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:47:29+00:00
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2021-08-17 20:27:56
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NEW YORK (AP) — It took the New York Yankees just over six weeks to erase a 10 1/2-game gap between them and the Boston Red Sox. With roughly six more weeks left in the regular season, the longtime rivals are practically in a dead heat — although it sure feels like the Yankees are […]
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New York Yankees Jonathan Loaisiga reacts after the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, in New York. The Yankees won 5-3. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
NEW YORK (AP) — It took the New York Yankees just over six weeks to erase a 10 1/2-game gap between them and the Boston Red Sox.
With roughly six more weeks left in the regular season, the longtime rivals are practically in a dead heat — although it sure feels like the Yankees are getting a running start going into the home stretch.
Luis Gil posted his third straight scoreless start to begin his career, Luke Voit and Giancarlo Stanton homered, and New York beat Boston 2-0 Tuesday night to sweep a doubleheader and move percentage points ahead of the Red Sox for an AL wild-card spot.
In the opener, Jonathan Loaisiga stranded the bases loaded in Boston’s final at-bat for a gutsy two-inning save after New York capitalized on a wild outing by Red Sox relievers for a 5-3 victory.
The Yankees have won five straight and 12 of 15 to narrowly overtake Boston for second in the AL East — New York is 68-52 and the Red Sox 69-53, a difference of .001 percentage points. The Yankees were 10 1/2 games behind first-place Boston on July 5 but have gone 26-11 since.
“It’s going to be a tough road ahead still, but the group is a confident group, and I think they know what they’re capable of,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
New York is in a playoff position for the first time since May 30.
“That’s a different team than early in the season,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “They’re more agile, more versatile, more athletic and one thing they’ve done throughout the season is they can pitch.”
The Red Sox had seemingly snapped out of a 3-11 slump when they swept last-place Baltimore for three games over the weekend. Now, Boston is suddenly out of postseason position after leading the division for much of the season.
“It’s not deflating,” Cora said. “I mean, it’s two games, we lost, whatever.”
Gil allowed three hits and four walks and struck out four over 4 2/3 innings. He has yet to allow a run in 15 2/3 big league innings, the longest stretch to start a career by a Yankees pitcher since at least 1961, according to Elias. The previous best was Joba Chamberlain at 15 1/3 innings in 2007.
“That’s a big game out there,” Boone said. “Red Sox-Yankees in August, playing for a lot, and I thought he was unflappable.”
Gil is the only major league pitcher since at least 1901 with no runs allowed and 15 or more strikeouts through his first three games, according to YES Network.
“A lot of adrenaline tonight,” he said via translator.
The 23-year-old Gil — pronounced like “heel” — cruised into the fifth before allowing two singles and a walk. Wandy Peralta (4-2) relieved and retired Rafael Devers on an inning-ending fielder’s choice, preserving the 2-0 lead.
Boston had runners at first and third in the sixth with two outs when pinch-hitter Bobby Dalbec ripped a comebacker that appeared to hit Peralta in the shoulder. Peralta scrambled for the ball near the third-base line and fired to first just in time to retire Dalbec.
Chad Green closed out the ninth for his fifth save and second in two days.
Voit poked a 98 mph fastball from Nathan Eovaldi (10-8) over the wall in right for a solo homer in the second. It was Voit’s sixth homer of the season and second in three days.
The 2020 big league home run leader seemingly lost his job at first base when the Yankees acquired Anthony Rizzo from the Cubs on July 29, but he’s taken advantage of steady playing time with Rizzo on the COVID-19 injured list. Rizzo is expected back in the next couple of days.
“I was Top 10 MVP (voting) last year and I’ve been a great player for this organization for last three years,” Voit said. “I’m not going down. I want to play. Obviously, I know it’s going to be tougher with Rizzo, but I deserve to play just as much as he does.”
Asked about divvying up their playing time, Boone said, “We’re day by day, man.”
Stanton led off the fourth with his 19th home run.
Eovaldi worked five innings and was charged with two runs, seven hits and a walk with six strikeouts.
FOR STARTERS
Loaisiga pitched a perfect sixth in the first game before Boston loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh on three singles — two of them soft, well-placed grounders. Pinch-hitter Travis Shaw lined out to left in his first at-bat since being claimed off waivers Sunday, but the ball wasn’t deep enough for a sacrifice fly.
The 26-year-old Loaisiga then struck out Kiké Hernandez and Hunter Renfroe, and let out a vicious yell following his fifth save.
The Yankees have played a majors-most 68 games decided by two runs or fewer. Their .661 winning percentage (45-23) in those games is best in the big leagues.
Red Sox relievers Garrett Whitlock (4-2) and Josh Taylor combined to walk the bases loaded with one out in the fifth inning before Voit floated a two-run single to shallow center for a 4-3 lead. Boston issued six walks over the final two innings.
“It was a tough day overall,” Cora said. “Obviously to come here and lose both games, yeah we were in it, but we didn’t do much offensively today.”
Albert Abreu (2-0) got the final out of the fifth and the win.
STRIPES EARNED
Bronx-born Yankee Andrew Velazquez got his first RBIs in pinstripes with a two-run single off starter Tanner Houck in the second inning for the first game that put New York ahead 2-0.
“Just another day, better seats,” the Fordham Prep grad joked. “No, it was a culmination of a lot of things. … That hit alone made everything worth it.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: INF Christian Arroyo (left hamstring strain) was set to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester. … OF Danny Santana (left groin strain) could start a rehab assignment this week.
Yankees: RHP Luis Severino will be shut down from throwing this week while he awaits a second opinion for his tight right shoulder. Severino had an MRI on Monday, but Boone declined to share details on the diagnosis until the second opinion came back, likely on Wednesday or Thursday. … INF/OF Miguel Andújar (left wrist strain) was scheduled to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
UP NEXT
The rivals conclude the three-game series with Boston RHP Nick Pivetta (9-5, 4.20 ERA) facing Yankees LHP Andrew Heaney (7-8, 5.78).
___
Follow Jake Seiner: https://twitter.com/Jake_Seiner
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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Yanks overtake Red Sox for wild card with doubleheader sweep
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[
"Robert Burns",
"Ellen Knickmeyer",
"Zeke Miller",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:55:45+00:00
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2021-08-17 04:24:07
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Taliban have agreed to allow “safe passage” from Afghanistan for civilians struggling to join a U.S.-directed airlift from the capital, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser said Tuesday, although a timetable for completing the evacuation of Americans, Afghan allies and others has yet to be worked out with the country’s new […]
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President Joe Biden walks from the podium after speaking about Afghanistan from the East Room of the White House, Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Taliban have agreed to allow “safe passage” from Afghanistan for civilians struggling to join a U.S.-directed airlift from the capital, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser said Tuesday, although a timetable for completing the evacuation of Americans, Afghan allies and others has yet to be worked out with the country’s new rulers.
Jake Sullivan acknowledged reports that some civilians were encountering resistance — “being turned away or pushed back or even beaten” — as they tried to reach the Kabul international airport. But he said “very large numbers” were reaching the airport and the problem of the others was being taken up with the Taliban, whose stunningly swift takeover of the countryon Sunday plunged the U.S. evacuation effort into chaos, confusion and violence.
Pentagon officials said that after interruptions on Monday, the airlift was back on track and being accelerated despite weather problems, amid regular communication with Taliban leaders. Additional U.S. troops arrived and more were on the way, with a total of more than 6,000 expected to be involved in securing the airport in coming days.
The White House said 13 flights Tuesday airlifted 1,100 U.S. citizens, permanent residents and their families from the Kabul airport, adding that the pace was expected to pick up Wednesday and through the week.
The State Department said it was sending John Bass, a former ambassador to Afghanistan, to manage the evacuation operation in Kabul, and the Pentagon said it will send Army Maj. Gen. Christopher Donohue, a special operations officer and current commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, to take command of airport security operations.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby disclosed that U.S. officers were speaking with Taliban commanders “multiple times a day” about avoiding conflict at the airport. This suggested that the new rulers of Afghanistan, who swept to power after 20 years of war against the U.S.-supported Kabul government, plan not to disrupt the evacuation. 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.
Biden has said he wants the evacuation completed by Aug. 31. Sullivan declined to say whether that deadline would hold.
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.
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.”
Overnight at the airport, nine Air Force C-17 transport planes arrived with equipment and about 1,000 troops, and seven C-17s took off with 700-800 civilian evacuees, including 165 Americans, Army Maj. Gen. William Taylor told a Pentagon news conference. The total included Afghans who have applied for Special Immigrant Visas and third-country nationals, he said.
The goal is to ramp up to one evacuation flight per hour by Wednesday, with 5,000 to 9,000 evacuees leaving per day, Taylor and Kirby said. Taylor said that more than 4,000 U.S. troops are now at the airport. That number is expected to top 6,000 in coming days — more than twice as many as in all of Afghanistan when Biden announced in April he would be ending the U.S. war and pulling out all troops.
On Monday the airlift had been 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 U.S. commanders at the airport are in direct communication with Taliban commanders outside to avoid security incidents.
He said there have been no hostile actions by the Taliban, and that several hundred members of the now-defeated Afghan army were at the airport assisting in the evacuation.
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.
—
Associated Press writers Darlene Superville, Matthew Lee, Eric Tucker and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington and Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin contributed to this report.
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Taliban allowing ‘safe passage’ from Kabul in US airlift
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[
"Brian Mahoney",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:47:43+00:00
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2021-08-17 17:50:16
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NEW YORK (AP) — The “Welcome to New York” signs decorating the outside of Madison Square Garden and hanging behind him were nice, though unnecessary. Kemba Walker needs no introduction around here. He’s a New York native who was already playing at Madison Square Garden in high school and made a memorable buzzer-beater during a […]
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FILE – Connecticut’s Kemba Walker (15) celebrates scoring the winning goal with teammate Shabazz Napier, in the final seconds of the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Pittsburgh in the Big East Championship at Madison Square Garden in New York, in this Thursday, March 10, 2011, file photo. Connecticut defeated Pittsburgh 76-74. The New York Knicks have been looking long for a point guard and didn’t have to search too far for their new one. Kemba Walker is from New York and is coming back to the Madison Square Garden court where he’s had plenty of success already. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — The “Welcome to New York” signs decorating the outside of Madison Square Garden and hanging behind him were nice, though unnecessary.
Kemba Walker needs no introduction around here.
He’s a New York native who was already playing at Madison Square Garden in high school and made a memorable buzzer-beater during a historic Big East tournament run while playing for Connecticut.
Now he gets to see what he can do while playing there for the New York Knicks.
“It’s going to be better,” Walker said. “Ten times better.”
The Knicks held a news conference Tuesday to announce the additions of Walker and Evan Fournier, his teammate last season with the Boston Celtics who was acquired in a sign-and-trade deal.
Fournier, like many around the NBA, called Madison Square Garden his favorite arena. But few players — Knicks or otherwise — can match Walker’s history in the building.
The highlight video montage that played before the start of the news conference included Walker’s step-back jumper to beat Pittsburgh in the quarterfinals of the 2011 Big East tourney, when he led the Huskies to a stunning stretch of five wins in five days.
“That was just a special, special run,” Walker said.
They followed it by winning the NCAA championship, with Walker the Most Outstanding Player. He went on to play eight seasons with the Charlotte Hornets and thought there was a chance he would sign with the Knicks in 2019 as a free agent before instead going to Boston.
Now, a decade after he lit up the arena, the arena was lit up with his picture.
“I think everything is perfect. Everything,” Walker said. “Perfect timing.”
It happened after the Celtics traded him to Oklahoma City in June. Walker agreed to a buyout so he could sign elsewhere, though said the Knicks were his only choice.
At 31, the 6-foot-1 Walker may no longer be the same player who has averaged 19.9 points and been selected to four All-Star Games. He struggled with knee pain in each of the past two postseasons, though said Tuesday he feels great now.
No matter what, his signing was popular in New York, where the Knicks have long searched for a point guard and may have finally found one right in town. Walker was besieged by messages from friends, old coaches and beyond following the news that he’d be a Knick.
“I planned on telling everybody I only get four tickets,” Walker joked to a small crowd at MSG that included his mother and sister.
Fournier agreed to his four-year deal worth about $78 million while in Tokyo, where he was France’s leading scorer in the Olympics. The French beat the U.S. in their opening game and lost to them in the final, matching their best finish with a silver medal.
The swingman averaged 17.1 points last season for Orlando and Boston and should provide scoring punch for a Knicks team that defended well under Tom Thibodeau but was searching for more offense in the offseason.
Fournier spoke to Thibodeau during the tournament, with the coach not only wooing the player but also talking trash to him, telling Fournier that after he won a silver medal that he needed to come to New York and talk.
“Unfortunately that’s what happened,” said Fournier, though he knew by then that the Knicks were his destination.
“It was pretty clear to me that New York was going to be the team for me,” he said.
The Knicks announced Tuesday they had acquired Fournier along with a pair of second-round draft picks for cash considerations.
They hoped at one time that Frank Ntilikina, Fournier’s teammate with the French national team, could be their point guard solution. But the last lottery pick of Phil Jackson just before he was ousted as Knicks president never developed and the search continued.
It led them to Walker, who was on vacation when he learned he was dealt to Oklahoma City.
Vacation is over. Now he is home.
“I can’t really put into words how amazing this feeling is, being at home,” Walker said.
___
Follow Brian Mahoney on Twitter at https://twitter.com/briancmahoney
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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Walker’s welcome: Kemba comes home to play for the Knicks
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[
"Ahmad Seir",
"Tameem Akhgar",
"Kathy Gannon",
"Jon Gambrell",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:54:28+00:00
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2021-08-16 05:47:03
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Thousands of Afghans rushed onto the tarmac of Kabul's international airport Monday, so desperate to escape the Taliban capture of their country that they held onto an American military jet as it took off and plunged to death in chaos that killed at least seven people, U.S. officials said.
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Taliban fighters take control of Afghan presidential palace after the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Zabi Karimi)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Thousands of Afghans rushed into Kabul’s main airport Monday, some so desperate to escape the Taliban that they held onto a military jet as it took off and plunged to their deaths. At least seven people died in the chaos, U.S. officials said, as America’s longest war ended with its enemy the victor.
The crowds came while the Taliban enforced their rule over the capital of 5 million people after a lightning advance across the country that took just over a week to dethrone the country’s Western-backed government. There were no major reports of abuses or fighting, but many residents stayed home and remained fearful after the insurgents’ takeover saw prisons emptied and armories looted.
A resolute U.S. President Joe Biden said he stood “squarely behind” his decision to withdraw American forces and acknowledged the “gut-wrenching” images unfolding in Kabul. Biden said he faced a choice between honoring a previously negotiated withdrawal agreement or sending thousands more troops back to begin a third decade of war.
“After 20 years, I’ve learned the hard way that there was never a good time to withdraw U.S. forces,” Biden said in a televised address from the White House.
The president said American troops should not be fighting and dying in a war “that Afghan forces are not willing to fight for themselves.” He warned the Taliban not to interfere with the evacuation efforts.
Across Afghanistan, the International Committee of the Red Cross said thousands had been wounded in the fighting. Security forces and politicians handed over their provinces and bases without a fight, likely believing the two-decade Western experiment to remake Afghanistan would not survival the resurgent Taliban. The last American troops had planned to withdraw at the end of the month.
“The world is following events in Afghanistan with a heavy heart and deep disquiet about what lies ahead,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
As the U.S. military and others continued evacuation flights, Afghans swarmed over the international airport’s tarmac. Some climbed into aircraft parked on the taxiway, while others dangled precariously off a jet bridge.
U.S. troops took positions to guard the active runway, but the crowd stormed past them and their armored vehicles. Gunshots rang out. As one U.S. Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III tried to take off, a helicopter did low runs in front of it to try to drive people off the runway.
Videos showed a group of Afghans hanging onto the plane just before takeoff and several falling through the air as the airplane rapidly gained altitude over the city.
Senior American military officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing operation, told The Associated Press that the chaos left seven dead, including several who fell from the flight. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said U.S. forces killed two people he described as carrying weapons in the melee. He said 1,000 more U.S. troops would be deployed to secure the airfield and back up the 2,500 already there.
All flights at the airport — both military and civilian — were halted until Afghan civilians could be cleared from the runway, Kirby added.
Late Monday night, hundreds of people remained trapped between American forces trying to push them out of the airport and Taliban forces trying to keep them in, witnesses said. An Associated Press journalist also saw what appeared to be an airstrike target two vehicles near the airport.
Earlier, more than 300 people were evacuated aboard a Turkish Airlines flight after Turkish soldiers cleared the runway. Senol Celik, who identified himself as a Turkish Embassy employee, said people “threw themselves in front of the plane.”
“They wanted to board the plane. They wanted to escape Afghanistan,” he said. “We were afraid that the plane would return and that we would enter that chaos. We were sad for those people.”
Shafi Arifi, who had a ticket to travel to Uzbekistan on Sunday, was unable to board his plane because it was packed with people who raced across the tarmac and climbed aboard, with no police or airport staff in sight.
“There was no room for us to stand,” said the 24-year-old. “Children were crying, women were shouting, young and old men were so angry and upset, no one could hear each other. There was no oxygen to breathe.”
After a woman fainted and was carried off the plane, Arifi gave up and returned home.
Other Afghans, like Rakhmatula Kuyash, are also trying to leave through land border crossings, all of which are now controlled by the Taliban.
“I’m lost and I don’t know what to do,” said Kuyash, who crossed into Uzbekistan on Sunday after leaving his children and relatives in Afghanistan. “I left everything behind.”
Others were not so lucky. Uzbekistan air defenses shot down an Afghan military aircraft that tried to enter the country without permission. Thetwo pilots were reportedly injured and in custody.
Meanwhile, President Ashraf Ghani, who earlier left the country, faced Russian allegations he fled Kabul with four cars and a helicopter full of cash. His whereabouts remained unclear.
The U.S. Embassy has been evacuated and the American flag lowered, with diplomats relocating to the airport to help with the evacuation. Other Western countries also closed their missions and were flying out staff and their citizens.
In interviews with U.S. television networks, national security adviser Jake Sullivan blamed the Afghan military for the Taliban’s rapid takeover, saying it lacked the will to fight.
The Taliban offensive stunned American officials. Just days before the insurgents entered Kabul with little if any resistance, a U.S. military assessment predicted it could take months for the capital to fall.
The rout threatened to erase 20 years of Western efforts to remake Afghanistan that saw tens of thousands of Afghans killed as well as more than 3,500 U.S. and allied troops. The initial invasion in 2001 drove the Taliban from power and scattered al-Qaida, which had planned the 9/11 attacks while being sheltered in Afghanistan.
Under the Taliban, which ruled in accordance with a harsh interpretation of Islamic law, women were largely confined to their homes and suspected criminals faced amputation or public execution. The insurgents have sought to project greater moderation in recent years, but many Afghans remain skeptical.
Filippo Grandi, the United Nations’ high commissioner for refugees, separately described interactions with the Taliban as “relatively positive.”
On Monday, Nillan, a 27-year-old resident of Kabul who asked to be identified only by her first name for fear of reprisals, said she did not see a single woman out on the streets during a 15-minute drive, “only men and boys.”
“It feels like time has stopped. Everything’s changed,” she told the AP.
She added, “It feels like our life and our future has ended.”
___
Akhgar reported from Istanbul, Gannon from Guelph, Canada, and Gambrell from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Joseph Krauss in Jerusalem, Rahim Faiez in Istanbul, Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Jamey Keaten in Geneva, Samya Kullab in Baghdad, Daria Litvinova in Moscow, Robert Burns in Washington, James LaPorta in Boca Raton, Florida, and Zeina Karam in Beirut contributed to this report.
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Kabul airport plunges into chaos as Taliban patrol capital
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[
"Robert Burns",
"Ellen Knickmeyer",
"Zeke Miller",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:44:23+00:00
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2021-08-18 04:24:21
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he is committed to keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan until every American is evacuated, even if that means maintaining a military presence there beyond his Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawal. He also pushed back against criticism that the U.S. should have done more to plan for […]
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he is committed to keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan until every American is evacuated, even if that means maintaining a military presence there beyond his Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawal.
He also pushed back against criticism that the U.S. should have done more to plan for the evacuation and withdrawal, which has been marked by scenes of violence and chaos as thousands attempted to flee while the Taliban advanced.
In an interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, Biden said the U.S. will do “everything in our power” to evacuate Americans and U.S. allies from Afghanistan before the deadline.
Pressed repeatedly on how the administration would help Americans left in the nation after Aug. 31, Biden said, “If there’s American citizens left, we’re gonna stay till we get them all out.”
Up to 15,000 Americans remain in Afghanistan after the Taliban took full control of the nation last weekend.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said earlier Wednesday that the U.S. military does not have the forces and firepower in Afghanistan to expand its current mission from securing the Kabul airport to collecting Americans and at-risk Afghans elsewhere in the capital and escorting them for evacuation.
The question of whether those seeking to leave the country before Biden’s deadline should be rescued and brought to the airport has arisen amid reports that Taliban checkpoints have stopped some designated evacuees.
“I don’t have the capability to go out and extend operations currently into Kabul,” Austin said. “And where do you take that? How far do you extend into Kabul, and how long does it take to flow those forces in to be able to do that?”
Austin, a retired four-star Army general who commanded forces in Afghanistan, spoke at his first Pentagon news conference since the Taliban swept to power in Kabul on Sunday.
He said the State Department was sending more consular affairs officers to speed up the processing of evacuees.
“We’re not close to where we want to be” in terms of the pace of the airlift, Austin said.
He said he was mainly focused on the airport, which faced “a number of threats” that must be monitored.
“We cannot afford to either not defend that airfield or not have an airfield that’s secure, where we have hundreds or thousands of civilians that can access the airfield,” he said, adding that talks with the Taliban were continuing to ensure safe passage for those evacuating.
Austin said there were about 4,500 U.S. troops at the airport, maintaining security to enable the State Department-run evacuation operation that has been marked by degrees of chaos and confusion.
Biden, however, told ABC that there wasn’t anything his administration could have done to avoid such chaos.
“The idea that somehow, there’s a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I don’t know how that happens,” he said.
Senior U.S. military officers were talking to Taliban commanders in Kabul about checkpoints and curfews that have limited the number of Americans and Afghans able to enter the airport.
John Kirby, the chief Pentagon spokesman, said that over 24 hours about 2,000 people, including 325 American citizens, had left aboard 18 flights by U.S. Air Force C-17 transport planes. The number of departing Air Force flights was likely to be similar in the coming 24 hours, Kirby said, although he said he could not estimate how many people they would carry.
He said the administration was 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.
“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 had not yet been made.
Kirby said several hundred more U.S. troops were expected to arrive at the airport by Thursday.
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.
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 of 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.
___
Associated Press writers Lolita C. Baldor, Darlene Superville, Matthew Lee, Eric Tucker, Alexandra Jaffe and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington and Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin contributed to this report.
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Biden: Troops will stay in Afghanistan to evacuate Americans
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2021-08-20 01:52:17+00:00
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2021-08-16 15:46:28
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CHICAGO (AP) — Five years after Barack Obama chose Chicago as the site for his legacy project, construction officially began Monday on the Obama Presidential Center. Roadway closures were set up and a bulldozer pulled up to start digging up part of the 19-acre lakefront site in Jackson Park, which is near the Obama family […]
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Construction crews tear up the turf field and track in Jackson Park starting construction on The Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago on Monday, Aug. 16, 2021. (Anthony Vazquez/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)
CHICAGO (AP) — Five years after Barack Obama chose Chicago as the site for his legacy project, construction officially began Monday on the Obama Presidential Center.
Roadway closures were set up and a bulldozer pulled up to start digging up part of the 19-acre lakefront site in Jackson Park, which is near the Obama family home and the University of Chicago where the former president once taught law. The Obama Foundation, which announced preliminary work in April, said a formal groundbreaking ceremony would take place in the fall.
Progress on the $500 million center has been delayed by lawsuits and a federal review required because of the location of the park, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Also, concerns about displacing Black residents stretched into a yearslong battle, resulting in neighborhood protections —including for affordable housing.
“We are incredibly proud to build the Obama Presidential Center here, just a couple of miles away from where President and Mrs. Obama started their journey,” Valerie Jarrett, president of the Obama Foundation, said in a statement. “We are on the heels of the work of so many whose efforts made the election of our first Black president possible. We look forward to delivering on the commitments we’ve made to our neighbors and our fellow Chicagoans as we continue on our road to groundbreaking.”
The multi-building complex will include a museum, public library branch, athletic center, children’s play area and a test kitchen. Obama’s documents will be available in digital form.
During a Chicago appearance in June, Obama said he hoped the center would help promote the city’s South Side and bring Chicagoans together.
“Our goal has been, how do we create an institution that not only is helping to promote the sort of civic engagement and progressive change that I believe happens when ordinary people just get involved in their communities,” he said. “But also how can we make this into something that helps bring Chicago together at a time when Chicago like much of the country sometimes feels divided.”
___
Follow Tareen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiatareen.
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After delays, construction on Obama Center begins in Chicago
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"The Associated Press",
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2021-08-20 01:54:42+00:00
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2021-08-16 05:06:39
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Senior Taliban leader Amir Khan Muttaqi is said to be in the Afghan capital negotiating with Kabul’s political leadership, including Abdullah Abdullah, who once headed the country’s negotiating council, and former President Hamid Karzai. That is according to an official familiar with the talks and who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not […]
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A U.S. Chinook helicopter flies over the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. Helicopters are landing at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul as diplomatic vehicles leave the compound amid the Taliban advanced on the Afghan capital. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
Senior Taliban leader Amir Khan Muttaqi is said to be in the Afghan capital negotiating with Kabul’s political leadership, including Abdullah Abdullah, who once headed the country’s negotiating council, and former President Hamid Karzai.
That is according to an official familiar with the talks and who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media..
Muttaqi was a higher education minister when the Taliban last ruled and he began making contacts with Afghan political leaders even before Afghan President Ashraf Ghani secretly slipped away from the Presidential Palace on the weekend, leaving a devastating vacuum that Taliban who were surrounding the city strode in to fill.
The official says the talks underway in the Afghan capital are aimed at bringing other non-Taliban leaders into the government that Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen has said will be an “inclusive Afghan government.”
There is little indication about the substance of the talks, but Shaheen earlier told The Associated Press that a government will be announced after negotiations with non-Taliban leaders are completed.
Afghans familiar with the talks say some rounds have gone late into the night and have been underway since soon after Ghani’s departure.
___
MORE ON THE CRISIS IN AFGHANISTAN:
— Taliban take over Afghanistan: What we know and what’s next
— Chaos as thousands flee Afghanistan after Taliban takeover
— Afghan woman in limbo at Kabul airport after Taliban sweep
— Concerns over US terror threats rising as Taliban hold grows
— Biden team surprisedby rapid Taliban gains in Afghanistan
___
HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
UNITED NATIONS — Pakistan’s ambassador at the United Nations says U.S. President Joe Biden’s endorsement of the previous American administrations’ decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan was “a logical conclusion to this conflict.”
Munir Akram told reporters at U.N. headquarters in New York on Monday that the international community must now work together “to ensure an inclusive political settlement for a long-term peace, security and development of Afghanistan.” He says Pakistan’s stance “that the conflict in Afghanistan never had a military solution” has been confirmed.
The envoy says the best time to end the conflict through negotiations probably was when U.S. and NATO troops were at a maximum military strength in Afghanistan. Akram adds that “therefore, endorsement by the Biden administration of the previous U.S. administrations’ decision of troop withdrawal was indeed a logical conclusion to this conflict.”
Akram says leaders of a number of Afghan political parties and groups “representing all the multiethnic groups apart from the Pashtuns” are in Pakistan’s capital and met with the foreign minister and other leaders Monday. He says Pakistan will work with them and with Taliban representatives to advance the goal of an inclusive political government.
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WASHINGTON — The family of a Navy veteran who was abducted in Afghanistan last year has met in Washington with senior Biden administration officials.
The meeting took place Monday as the family of Mark Frerichs appealed for the U.S. government’s help getting him home.
Frerichs is a civil engineer who was abducted in Kabul on Jan. 31, 2020. It is believed he is being held by the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani network.
Frerichs’ sister Charlene Cakora says in a statement that if it would help get her brother home, she would support the release from U.S. prison of a drug trafficker that the Taliban has said it wants freed.
She says that if the administration is not prepared to support the trade, then officials should tell the family what it will do instead.
___
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is acknowledging that the collapse of the Afghan government occurred much faster than his administration expected.
The president says in Monday’s remarks at the White House, “The truth is this did unfold more quickly than we had anticipated.”
Afghanistan erupted into disarray as the Taliban swept across the country in recent days, taking the capital of Kabul this weekend as the United States has been attempting to withdraw its forces, diplomats, allies and Afghans who worked with the coalition over the course of the 20 year war.
Yet the president says that the rapid end of the Afghan government only vindicates his choice to end the war.
Biden says, “American troops cannot and should not be fighting the war, and dying in a war that Afghan forces are not willing to fight for themselves.”
___
PARIS — President Emmanuel Macron promised on Monday that France would not abandon Afghans who worked for his country — from translators to kitchen staff, as well as artists, activists and others under threat from the Taliban.
Macron said that protecting those who helped France over the years is an “absolute urgency,” adding that two military transport planes, with special forces, were due to arrive in Kabul “in the coming hours.”
The exact timing was not immediately clear since the United States temporarily shut down the Kabul airport to civilian and military flights following deadly chaos on the tarmac that left at least seven people dead. The aircraft would fly from a base in Abu Dhabi, a transit stop for France’s evacuees.
According to Macron’s pre-recorded speech, it’s not known how many would be involved in the evacuation. France has already pulled out some 1,400 Afghan employees and families, and evacuated citizens on a charter flight in July. Paris withdrew all its soldiers from Afghanistan after 13 years by December 2014, but continued work with civil society.
The French president vowed that the fight against “Islamic terrorism in all its forms” would not end.
“Afghanistan cannot again become the sanctuary for terrorism that it was,” Macron said. Stability can only come about through political and diplomatic actions to be defined in the days ahead with the U.N. Security Council.
“We will do everything so that Russia, the United States and Europe can cooperate efficiently because our interests are the same,” he said and also said France — along with Germany and other European countries — would work swiftly on developing a “robust response” to another major concern for many countries, a flux of irregular migration by Afghans.
Afghanistan, he said, “will also need in the times ahead its (people) and Europe cannot alone assume the consequences of the current situation.
___
KABUL, Afghanistan — A Taliban official said Monday in a news conference at the Afghan presidential palace that he had been held for eight years by the U.S. at the Guantanamo Bay detention center before he was released under former President George W. Bush.
Gholam Ruhani was among 13 Afghan prisoners released in December 2007. A military review panel had recommended he be transferred out of U.S. custody after concluded he posed a “medium” risk to the U.S. and its allies. He was one of 485 prisoners sent back to their home countries from Guantanamo under the Bush administration.
Ruhani, who was among the first prisoners brought to what was then a makeshift prison on the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in January 2002, had admitted to the military panel that he had been a member of the Taliban and spent four years in their intelligence service in Kabul.
Now about 46, Ruhani grew up in the Ghazni area and fled the country for Iran during the Afghan-Soviet war, returning to the country in 1992. He told the U.S. military that he was conscripted by the Taliban in 1996 after working in his family’s store. He also admitted that his brother-in-law was the chief of intelligence for the Taliban.
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BLUFFTON, South Carolina — A Republican congressman who served in the air force in Afghanistan says both the Trump and the Biden administration are to blame for what is happening in Kabul now.
Adam Kinzinger, from Illinois, spoke to The Associated Press about the dramatic scenes from Kabul’s airport on Monday, with “people falling off of a C17 aircraft” in the mad scramble to get out. He says: “This is going to make Saigon look like Disney World in comparison.”
Kinzinger added that the “impact to America’s reputation” would also be considerable and that “this is an embarrassment to our country.” He condemned both Republicans and Democrats for what he said were their efforts “to pin it on one person or one party.”
He said “all Republicans, all Democrats bear some blame. And the last administration and this one bear huge.”
Kinzinger added: “You really have to question whether this was worth it in the long run.”
___
WASHINGTON — U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says the failure of the Afghan military is to blame for the Taliban’s swift takeover of Afghanistan.
Sullivan says President Joe Biden didn’t want the U.S. to enter a “third decade of conflict” in Afghanistan and believed it was time for the Afghan army to defend the country two decades after billions of dollars of investment and training by the U.S.
But Sullivan says, “we could not give them the will and ultimately they decided that they would not fight for Kabul.”
He says the “worst-case scenario” for the U.S. would be to send thousands and thousands of troops back to “fight and die” in a civil war when the Afghan army “wasn’t prepared to fight itself.”
Sullivan says Biden faced “bad choices” and that he chose to bring U.S. troops home and leave the Afghans to fight for themselves.
He says “it’s heartbreaking” to see what’s happening in Kabul but that Biden “stands by” his decision.
Sullivan spoke on Monday on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and NBC’s “Today.”
___
ANKARA, Turkey — The leader of Turkey’s main nationalist party, allied with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party, says he sees no reason for Ankara to withdraw its troops or diplomats from Afghanistan, insisting that Turkey’s presence there is “legitimate, friendly and peaceful.”
Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Action Party also said on Monday that the presence of ethnically Turkic groups in Afghanistan “imposes a responsibility on Turkey.”
On the threat of a possible Afghan migrants making their way to Turkey, Bahceli said the government should “consider every option, including negotiating with the Taliban” to prevent an influx.
“It is not possible for Turkey to digest irregular migration originating from Afghanistan,” he said.
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GENEVA — A top aviation industry association says airlines are avoiding the airspace over Afghanistan — a key route for travel between Europe and Asia — which could raise costs for airlines.
The International Air Transport Association says Afghan airspace no longer has operations from a civilian air traffic service.
IATA said on Monday that countries near Afghanistan have indicated they can accommodate additional traffic. It said that “the use of alternative routes through these states will support safe and secure operations, but will have time, operational and fuel impacts upon airlines.”
The association also said traffic through the area had already been reduced due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
___
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is reaching out to top rivals Russia and China as the situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate amid a scramble to evacuate Americans, other foreigners and at-risk Afghans from the Kabul airport.
The outreach also comes amid concerns that either or both Moscow and Beijing might stymie an international consensus on isolating the Taliban should conditions worsen.
The State Department says Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Monday to his Chinese and Russian counterparts about “developments in Afghanistan, including the security situation.” Department spokesman Ned Price said Blinken called Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov a day after the U.S. evacuated its embassy in Kabul and relocated remaining diplomats to the airport.
China has in recent weeks expressed an interest in working with the Taliban while Russia has its own history in Afghanistan. Earlier Monday, China said its embassy in Kabul remains open and is willing to assist with Afghan reconstruction. The foreign ministry would not say if Beijing would recognize the Taliban as the new government but said China would respect the choice of the Afghan people.
Russia’s foreign ministry said Lavrov and Blinken “discussed the situation in Afghanistan after the flight of the country’s leader, disintegration of the existing government bodies and a de-facto ongoing regime change.”
It said Lavrov had shared “Russian assessments of the situation” and Moscow’s contacts with “representatives of all main political forces in Afghanistan in the interest of ensuring stability and order.” The two agreed “to continue consultations” that would involve China, Pakistan, other “interested nations” and the UN to try to press for an intra-Afghan dialogue.
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BERLIN — German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called the latest developments in Afghanistan “bitter, dramatic and awful.”
Merkel told reporters on Monday night that the “breathtaking speed” with which the Taliban have taken over is especially bitter for the “millions of Afghans who supported a more liberal society and who counted on the support of the Western countries when it comes to democracy, education, women’s rights and who also had achieved important progress.”
Merkel said the development was also bitter “for Germany and the other allied nations who fought against terrorism under the lead of the United States and NATO in Afghanistan for 20 years after the terror attacks of September 11.”
The chancellor added that especially in these difficult hours one should never forget the people who gave their lives in this conflict — including 59 Germans who died in Afghanistan and many more who were injured.
She said a thorough analysis was needed of what went wrong and lessons had to be drawn for future military engagement. Merkel also vowed to support neighboring countries such as Pakistan when it comes to helping refugees fleeing the crisis in Afghanistan.
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LONDON — The office of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Monday he has spoken to French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.
Johnson said he planned to host a virtual meeting of the Group of Seven leaders on Afghanistan in the next few days, Downing Street said.
“He stressed the need for the international community to come together and take a unified approach on Afghanistan, both in terms of recognizing any future government and in working to prevent a humanitarian and refugee crisis,” his office said in a statement.
Johnson and Macron agreed that Britain and France should work together at the United Nations Security Council, including a possible joint resolution. They also agreed on the importance of cooperation in helping their citizens and others get to safety.
___
UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council is calling for an immediate halt to hostilities in Afghanistan and establishment of a new government “that is united, inclusive and representative” and that also includes women.
The council said in its first statement since the Taliban takeover that “institutional continuity and adherence to Afghanistan’s international obligations, as well as the safety and security of all Afghan and international citizens, must be ensured.”
Council members “called for an immediate end to the violence in Afghanistan” and the “restoration of security, civil and constitutional order,” as well as urgent talks to resolve the current crisis of authority and find a resolution “through an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned process.”
The council — without singling out the Taliban — also called for all parties to adhere to international human rights norms and standards and “put an end to all abuses and violations.” It also called for immediate access for U.N. and other humanitarian personnel to provide aid to millions in need, “including across conflict lines.”
The statement, drafted by Estonia and Norway, was approved by all 15 council members at an emergency meeting on Afghanistan.
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WARSAW, Poland — Poland’s prime minister says the country is sending planes to Afghanistan to evacuate translators and other people who have helped Poland over the years.
“Our priority now is to ensure the safety of all those who are associated with Poland in Afghanistan,” Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said, adding that “some these activities must, for obvious reasons, remain secret.”
He said that more planes than necessary will be sent and that Poland will be in a position to help other allies evacuate people as well.
He said Poland would do its best to “everyone who has helped Poland over the years, whether as a translator or in any other form of assistance” as humanely as possible.
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CAIRO — Japan’s top diplomat has urged all parties in Afghanistan to work on restoring security and order in the country after the Taliban seized power there.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi spoke on Monday at a joint news conference in Cairo with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shukry.
Motegi also called for all concerned parties in Afghanistan to ensure the protection of lives and property in the country. He said he has agreed to cooperate with Egypt, as an influential power in the Islamic world, to ensure that the latest developments in Afghanistan don’t cause further unrest.
___
KABUL, Afghanistan — The U.N. resident coordinator in Afghanistan says they will continue to work with the “de facto authorities” to provide humanitarian assistance after the Taliban takeover.
Ramiz Alakbarov told The Associated Press on Monday that the recent fighting had displaced some 600,000 people, and that because of the fluidity of the situation, humanitarian teams are not able to help everywhere.
Alakbarov, who is in Kabul, says he thought the international community should have invested more in health, education, and the future of women and young people, not necessarily so much in security infrastructure, if it had wanted to avoid “the results that we have now”.
He noted that the U.N.’s humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan, 1.3 billion dollars for 2021, is funded only to 38%.
___
UNITED NATIONS — The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is calling for a halt to attacks on Afghan civilians, protection of the human rights of all people in the country especially women, girls and minorities, and for all parties to prevent terrorism.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Monday that “we must all ensure Afghanistan cannot ever, ever again be a base for terrorism.”
She reemphasized that “civilian populations, including journalists and non-combatants, must be protected.”
Thomas-Greenfield made no mention of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan but said the role of U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the two U.N. envoys — special representative Deborah Lyons and personal envoy Jean Arnault — “is especially vital now as we enter an uncertain and crucial period that requires the international community to speak with a clear and unified voice.”
She called on the Taliban “to permit humanitarian organizations to continue their vital work in Afghanistan,” stressing that in addition to violence the Afghan people “are suffering acutely from the effects of COVID-19 and drought” and their needs must remain a top priority in the “days, weeks and beyond.”
The U.N. World Food Program is reporting that more than 500 tons of aid are currently sitting at border crossings taken by the Taliban, the U.S. ambassadorsaid, urging that this aid be allowed into Afghanistan immediately.
“Finally and critically, all Afghan nationals and international citizens who wish to depart must be allowed to do so safely,” Thomas-Greenfield said, adding that the U,S, promises “to be generous in resettling Afghans” and “we need to all do more.”
___
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — Slovenia’s right-wing Prime Minister Janez Jansa has described the deadly chaos in Afghanistan and the handover of modern weapons to the Taliban as the “greatest defeat for NATO in history.”
Jansa tweeted on Monday that leaving Afghan allies to the Taliban “terror” has been a “shameful act.” All this is a “symbol of the end of an era,” said Jansa, who is known as a backer of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Biden administration and much of the international community have been stunned at the Taliban blitz and the speed with which the insurgents seized power, two weeks before the U.S. is set to complete its troop withdrawal after a costly two-decade war.
___
CHICAGO — United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic rerouted flights to avoid passing over Afghanistan amid the Taliban takeover. A United flight from Newark, New Jersey, to Delhi jogged east on Monday to avoid Afghan airspace.
“Due to the dynamic nature of the situation we have begun routing affected flights around Afghanistan airspace,” a United spokeswoman said, adding that the change affects only flights to and from India.
A spokeswoman for U.K.-based Virgin Atlantic said that “following the latest situation reports in Afghanistan, we will be re-routing our upcoming services to avoid Afghanistan’s airspace.”
The airline’s last plane to pass over Afghanistan was Sunday from London to Lahore, Pakistan. The airline’s flights to Pakistan and India typically pass over Afghanistan, but are being rerouted. The airline also avoid flying over Iran.
Neither carrier said how long the changes would last, but said they were in contact with aviation regulators to monitor the situation.
Also on Monday, a Turkish Airlines jetliner landed in Kabul and departed more than five hours later and landed in Istanbul, according to tracking service Flightradar24.
___
UNITED NATIONS — Afghanistan’s U.N. ambassador says “there is no time for the blame game anymore.” He is urging the Security Council and secretary-general to use every means at their disposal to call for an immediate halt to violence and respect for human rights and to “prevent Afghanistan descending into a civil war and becoming a pariah state.”
Ghulam Isaczai told an emergency meeting of the U.N.’s most powerful body on Monday that he was “speaking on behalf of millions of people in Afghanistan, whose fate hangs in the balance and are faced with an extremely uncertain future,” including “millions of Afghan girls and women who are about to lose their freedom to go to school, to work and to participate in the political, economic and social life of the country.”
Isaczai, who was appointed by Ashraf Ghani’s government that was ousted by the Taliban on Sunday, expressed extreme concern that the Islamic militant group will not honor commitments and agreements it made during talks in Qatar’s capital Doha and other international meetings.
“We have seen gruesome images of Taliban’s mass executions of military personnel and target killing of civilians in Kandahar and other big cities,” he said. “Kabul residents are reporting the Taliban have already started house-to-house searches in some neighborhoods, registering names and looking for people in their target list. There are already reports of target killings and looting in the city. Kabul residents are living in absolute fear right now.”
He urged the Security Council and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to call on the Taliban to stop the violence, targeted killings and revenge attacks and respect their own previous general amnesty offer, and to “unequivocally state that it does not recognize the restoration of the Islamic Emirate.”
Isaczai said the U.N. should also urge the Taliban not to demolish works of art as they did in the 1990s and stress that anyone violating the human rights of Afghans and international humanitarian law “will be held accountable.”
The ambassador also called for the urgent establishment of “a humanitarian corridor for the evacuation of those at risk of Taliban’s retributions and attacks” and for neighboring countries to open their borders to people trying to escape and for humanitarian goods entering the country.
___
GENEVA — Some two-dozen human rights experts working with the United Nations say countries must not “stand on the sidelines” now that the Taliban — a U.N.-listed terror organization — have seized control of Afghanistan.
A sharply worded statement on Monday demanded action from the U.N. Security Council. The experts denounced the Taliban’s “relentless campaign” against civilians, aid workers and journalists that have included assassinations, illegal restrictions on the rights of women and girls, and “mass executions of civilians.”
“It is unacceptable for states to stand on the sidelines when a United Nations Security Council listed terrorist organization overruns the territory of Afghanistan and engages in acts that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity,” the experts said in a joint statement that drew an unusually large number of signatures.
They cited unspecified reports from 16 provinces in Afghanistan that have shown women and girls have faced rights violations including the requirement to wear full-body burqas, forced marriage, ban on employment and limits to freedom of movement and health care. The experts alluded to similar restrictions when the Taliban last held power before being toppled by a U.S.-led coalition two decades ago.
The experts called on the Security Council – which was holding a special session on Afghanistan on Monday — to be “unequivocal in action.”
“The people of Afghanistan deserve better than to endure the silence and by-standing of the member states of the United Nations at this perilous moment,” they wrote. “We cannot stand idly by as the lives of the Afghan people are treated with contempt, derision, and weariness.”
The experts also demanded accountability for what they said were the deaths of 1,000 civilians who were killed “last month alone.”
___
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military is sending another battalion of about 1,000 troops to help safeguard the Kabul airport as American forces killed two armed individuals there during a chaotic evacuation.
That’s according to Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, who briefed reporters on Monday.
The development is a sign of the ongoing turmoil and violence as thousands of Afghans rushed onto the tarmac of Kabul’s international airport following a swifter-than-expected Taliban takeover of the country.
The speed at which the Taliban seized power, two weeks before the U.S. is set to complete its troop withdrawal after a costly two-decade war, has stunned the Biden administration and many in Afghanistan and the international community.
___
BERLIN — Germany’s foreign minister has acknowledged that the German government — and also the international community — has misjudged the situation in Afghanistan and the speed with which the Taliban would take over the country.
Heiko Maas said on Monday that, “all of us, the government, the intelligence services, the international community, all of us misjudged the situation. Neither we nor our partners and experts did foresee the speed which with the Afghan security forces withdrew and capitulated.”
The foreign minister added that the images from Kabul “are very painful” and that the government is doing everything to evacuate as many people as possible.
Maas said that of the 2,500 embassy staffer who had been identified previously for evacuation, 1,900 had already been brought to Germany. In addition to the 600 still remaining on the ground, Maas added that Germany feels responsible to evacuate another 2,000 people — including human rights activist and their families.
He said one of the biggest problems right now was to get the people from their homes or safe houses to the airport to fly them out.
___
BUDAPEST, Hungary — A Hungarian official on Monday criticized the pullout of American-led forces from Afghanistan and said Hungary will not take in refugees fleeing the country after its takeover by the Taliban.
Levente Magyar, a state secretary with Hungary’s foreign ministry, told state news agency MTI that the government would not make Hungarians pay for the “flawed geopolitical decision” of the U.S. military withdrawal by accepting refugees “without any kind of restrictions.”
Hungary’s right-wing government is a staunch opponent of immigration, and in 2015 built a fence along its southern border in response to an influx of refugees from the Middle East and Africa.
That fence would be used to deter a potential wave of refugees from Afghanistan, Magyar said, adding that the government is assessing how it can help those Afghans who have worked as interpreters or in other capacities for Hungarian troops.
On Sunday, more than 60 countries issued a joint statement calling for all Afghans wishing to depart Afghanistan to be allowed to do so. Of the 27 member states of the European Union, only Hungary and Bulgaria did not sign the statement.
___
GENEVA — The head of the U.N. refugee agency says its recent interaction with the Taliban — Afghanistan’s new rulers — has been “relatively positive” and that humanitarian aid teams will stay in the country to help people in need after the Kabul government was toppled.
Filippo Grandi, the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Refugees, said UNHCR discussions with the Taliban “may at times be difficult.”
In an interview at UNHCR headquarters in Geneva, Grandi said the agency would continue to press for respect of the rights of women and girls, who had faced strict rules and bans on school education, for example, when the Taliban previously ran the country — before a U.S.-led international coalition drove them from power in 2001.
Grandi noted that most of the displacement in recent weeks has been within Afghanistan, but appealed to other countries to keep their borders open and take in any refugees who could flee in the future. He said a half-million people have been internally displaced this year, the “vast majority” of which in the last few weeks alone.
He said that while UNHCR and partners have been previously in contact with Taliban leaders in rural areas before its forces swept into cities in recent weeks. Most of the recent interaction has been on issues like security and safety of the sites of UNHCR and partners
___
UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations chief is calling for an immediate end to violence in Afghanistan and urging the international community to unite to ensure that the human rights of all people, especially women and girls, are respected.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to the U.N. Security Council at an emergency meeting on Monday “and the international community as a whole to stand together, work together and act together.”
He said he is “particularly concerned by accounts of mounting human rights violations against the women and girls of Afghanistan who fear a return to the darkest days” in the 1990s when the Taliban ruled and barred girls for getting an education and imposed draconian measures on women.
Guterres said “the world is following events in Afghanistan with a heavy heart and deep disquiet about what lies ahead” and with the country’s future and the hopes and dreams of a generation of young Afghans in the balance, the coming days “will be pivotal.”
At this “grave hour,” the secretary-general urged all parties, especially the Taliban, “to exercise utmost restraint to protect lives and to ensure that humanitarian needs can be met.”
Guterres said the U.N continues to have staff and offices in areas now under Taliban control, and which so far have been respected. “Above all, we will stay and deliver in support of the Afghan people in their hour of need.”
“We cannot and must not abandon the people of Afghanistan,” he said.
___
MOSCOW — The Russian embassy in Kabul alleged Monday that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has fled from Kabul with four cars and a helicopter full of cash, Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti reported.
The report quoted embassy spokesman Nikita Ishchenko as saying that “the collapse of the regime … is most eloquently characterized by how Ghani escaped from Afghanistan: four cars were filled with money, they tried to shove another part of the money into a helicopter, but not everything fit. And some of the money was left lying on the tarmac.”
Ghani left Kabul on Sunday as the Taliban swept into the Afghan capital. Media reports suggested that the president went to the neighboring Tajikistan or Uzbekistan, but there was no official confirmation of his whereabouts.
Kremlin envoy on Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov on Monday described Ghani’s flight from Kabul as “disgraceful,” adding that Ghani “deserves to be brought to justice and held accountable by the Afghan people.”
___
KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban entered Afghanistan’s most popular TOLO-TV compound in the capital on Monday, looking for government-issued weapons,” said the station’s owner Saad Mohsini.
“They sent a bunch of people just to look at the security to check the weapons . . . They are collecting government-issued weapons and other assets, they let us keep our own weapons,” he said.
“They were polite.” Mohsini said, adding that the insurgents offered to keep a watch outside and even offered to provide security inside the compound. Mohsini said the station declined.
There was no mention of the many women who work for TOLO TV.
The TV staff were told to continue with their transmissions. “No mention of the women reporters, Mohsini said. “They just said keep your transmissions, normal programming going. ”
___
MOSCOW — A plane carrying more than 100 Afghan servicemen landed in Tajikistan on Monday, the Tajik Foreign Ministry said.
Officials told Russia’s state news agency Tass that Tajikistan received an SOS signal and allowed a plane bound from Afghanistan to land in an airport in the Khatlon province, which borders with Afghanistan and Uzbekistan’s Surkhandarya region, where an Afghan warplane was shot down on Sunday.
More than 100 Afghan military disembarked from the plane, the Foreign Ministry said. It wasn’t immediately clear why the plane sent an SOS signal.
The announcement by the ministry came as thousands packed into the Kabul airport on Monday, rushing the tarmac and pushing onto planes in desperate attempts to flee the country after the Taliban overthrew the Western-backed government the day before.
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BERLIN — The head of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-right party has refused to make any kind of commitment regarding the possible intake of Afghan refugees following the takeover of the country by the militant Taliban.
Armin Laschet, who is also running to succeed Merkel in national elections next month, said Monday that, “I don’t think we should send out the signal that Germany can accept all those who are currently in trouble.”
German news agency dpa reported that Laschet added the focus of support for Afghans must be on “giving humanitarian aid locally on the ground in time — different from 2015.”
In 2015, Germany took in more than 1 million migrants fleeing war-torn countries like Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq. The influx of migrants helped strengthen the anti-migrant, far-right party AfD.
___
BRUSSELS — NATO envoys are set to meet Tuesday to discuss security developments in Afghanistan after the Taliban seized control of the strife-torn country over the weekend.
The 30-nation military organization said Monday that NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who will chair Tuesday morning’s meeting of ambassadors, will hold a news conference after it, at 1300 GMT.
NATO took charge of international security operations in Afghanistan in 2003 – its first major mission outside Europe and North America – aiming to help stabilize the government, build up local security forces and remove a potential rear-base for terrorist groups.
The U.S.-led military alliance wound down combat operations in 2014 to focus on training Afghan security forces but the Afghan armed forces withered before the insurgent offensive.
The Taliban were emboldened by the Biden administration’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops and wind up the NATO training mission in Afghanistan. The mission numbered about 10,000 personnel a year ago. An official said Sunday that “there are no troops under NATO command in Afghanistan currently.” NATO also has a small diplomatic mission in Afghanistan. An official said Sunday that the military organization continues to “maintain our diplomatic presence in Kabul.”
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ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s political and military leadership on Monday called for a political settlement of the conflict in Afghanistan, a day after the Taliban swept into Kabul after the government collapsed there.
The appeals comes shortly after Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan, government officials and army chiefs met to review the latest situation in Afghanistan.
At the meeting of National Security Committee, Khan directed that all possible facilities be made available to repatriate Pakistanis, diplomats, journalists and staff of international organizations seeking to leave Afghanistan, according to a government statement.
It said Pakistan would continue to work with the international community and all Afghan stakeholders to facilitate an inclusive political settlement in the country.
The National Security Committee noted positively that major violence had been averted in Afghanistan, the statement said.
___
LONDON — British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace held back tears as he conceded that Britain was unlikely to be able to evacuate all its Afghan allies from Kabul.
Speaking on Monday via webcam on LBC Radio, Wallace said it was a “really deep part of regret for me” that not all Afghans eligible to come to the U.K. will be able to do so during the current evacuation drive.
In addition to the 4,000 or so U.K. nationals in Afghanistan, Britain is processing claims of Afghan citizens, such as interpreters, who have helped in the 20 years since first arrived following the 9/11 attacks.
A visibly emotional Wallace, a former captain in the Scots Guard. said that Britain will in the future “have to do our best in third countries to process those people.”
Asked why he felt the situation “so personally,” Wallace said it was because he was a soldier and “because it’s sad and the West has done what it’s done, and we have to do our very best to get people out and stand by our obligations and 20 years of sacrifice is what it is.”
___
WASHNGTON — A U.S. defense official says the head of Central Command has met face-to-face with senior Taliban leaders to urge their fighters not to interfere with the U.S. military’s evacuation operations at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan.
The official said that in the meeting on Sunday in Doha, Qatar, Gen. Frank McKenzie won Taliban agreement to establish a “deconfliction mechanism” — an arrangement by which evacuation operations at the airport can continue without interference by the new rulers of the country.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive talks not yet announced publicly. The official said McKenzie urged the Taliban not to interfere with the evacuation and said the U.S. military would respond forcefully to defend the airport if necessary.
—Robert Burns in Washington;
___
NEW DELHI —India’s Foreign Ministry has said the suspension of commercial operations at the Kabul airport has forced the Indian government to pause its repatriation efforts but the process would restart once the flights are resumed.
In a statement on Monday, the ministry said it is in touch with some Indian nationals in Afghanistan who wish to return to the country and that it has been issuing periodic advisories for their safety and security.
The ministry said it is in “constant touch with the representatives of Afghan Sikh and Hindu communities” and it will facilitate repatriation to India of those who wish to leave Afghanistan.
“There are also a number of Afghans who have been our partners in the promotion of our mutual developmental, educational and people to people endeavors. We will stand by them,” the statement said.
The ministry said the Indian government is monitoring the rapidly developing situation “on a constant basis at high levels” and that it will “ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals and our interests in Afghanistan.”
___
BUCHAREST, Romania — Romania’s president on Monday ordered the “emergency involvement” of the Romanian Air Force to help evacuate Romanian citizens from Kabul airport, the president’s office said in a press release Monday.
“This decision was taken at the proposal of the Prime Minister of Romania … given the accelerated deterioration of the security situation in Afghanistan,” the press release said.
Prime Minister Florin Citu said Monday that there are currently 35 Romanian citizens in Afghanistan and that an airplane needs to be sent to the country as soon as possible to repatriate them.
“We have two options,” Citu told the press Monday. “A NATO plane or a plane of ours going there. But we need to send a plane as soon as possible.”
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ROME — An Afghan-Italian doctor who was evacuated from Kabul had harsh words on the West’s decision to leave Afghanistan in the hands of the Taliban after 20 years.
Dr. Arif Oryakhail told reporters at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport on Monday, “We left our colleagues to die.” He was among some 20 Afghans who were on an Italian military flight also carrying about 50 embassy staff, including Italy’s ambassador, and other Italian citizens.
“We left Kabul destroyed, abandoned,’’ Oryakhail said, his voice breaking. “The big fear is for our colleagues who worked with us. The Taliban are going from house to house looking for them.”
They include doctors and nurses at clinics that the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation set up around Afghanistan.
“They believed in us,’’ Oryakhail said. He called the West’s 20-year mission in Afghanistan “totally failed,” and of the country’s future he said: “You ask me about the future? Ask those who failed.”
Italian Premier Mario Draghi underlined in a statement on Monday that “Italy’s commitment is to protect the Afghan citizens who worked with us on our mission.”
The Italian plan called for an air bridge over the next three days, but the security situation at the airport is deteriorating. One Italian development agency expert who was evacuated, Pietro del Sette, said it might still be possible to get others out “if the military part of the airport manages to stay open.” He estimates some 300 Afghans who worked with Italian agencies and their family members are still in Afghanistan.
___
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Dutch defense minister says a Dutch military aircraft is en route to Afghanistan to evacuate embassy staff, their families and Afghan translators who worked with the Netherlands.
Ank Bijleveld says in a tweet on Monday that more flights are planned “in part due to the uncertain situation.”
___
PRAGUE — A humanitarian organization that has been operating in Afghanistan since 2001 is facing uncertain times with the Taliban back in power.
The deteriorating security situation forced the Prague-based People in Need organization to evacuate their foreign employees and halt all their activities.
“We’re facing an uncertain future,” People in Need regional director told the Associated Press. The key is the safety of their local cooperators.
“In recent weeks and days, we’ve noticed information from the Taliban with increasing frequency, that they want the humanitarian organizations to keep operating in Afghanistan, and that our international employees are safe. But we haven’t heard, any such assurances about the safety of our local employees,” Kocian said “That will certainly be part of our talks with the Taliban.”
Coming after the United States and their allies ousted the Taliban from power, the People in Need was involved in hundreds projects, ranging from humanitarian aid to building schools and infrastructure, including water and sewage networks and many others.
It wants to continue but not at all costs. “We can see what needs to be done and we are determined to keep our operations in Afghanistan but only on condition that it will be safe for our workers,” Kocian said.
___
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has been quoted as saying that Turkey is closely following the situation in Afghanistan and that measures have been taken to ensure the safety of Turkish troops in the country.
A ministry statement said Akar made the comments after chairing a high-level military meeting to discuss the situation in the country on Monday.
The commander of the Turkish forces in Afghanistan joined the teleconference meeting.
The statement said the minister “emphasized that the safety of (Turkish) personnel in Kabul is (the government’s) first priority and announced that all kinds of measures have been taken regarding this.”
It did not elaborate on the safety measures.
___
BERLIN — Two German military transport planes that are on the way to Kabul to help with evacuations there, are currently stuck in Baku, Azerbaijan, where they initially stopped to get refueled.
Germany news agency dpa reported on Monday afternoon that the A400M planes could not continue their flight to Kabul as planned because they currently could not land there because of the chaos at the airport in the Afghan capital.
The news agency reports that one of the planes will try to continue its trip to Afghanistan later Monday to be near the airport when it opens again for evacuation planes.
All in all, the German Air Force has sent three planes to Afghanistan to help with the evacuation of embassy staff and local employees.
___
LONDON — Families of British soldiers who died in Afghanistan have expressed dismay at the sudden fall of the country to the Taliban.
Graham Knight, the father of 25-year-old Ben Knight who was killed when his Nimrod aircraft exploded in Afghanistan in 2006, said the British government should have moved more quickly to get civilians out.
The 69-year-old said the Taliban made their intent “very clear that, as soon as we went out, they would move in.”
He said the evacuation process should have started about a week ago and voiced worry that “some hothead American, or British hothead, will decide that the Taliban isn’t behaving how they want, shoot at them and that will be it.”
Ian Sadler, whose 21-year-old son Jack died when his Land Rover struck a mine in Afghanistan in 2007, was surprised that the U.S. and its allies had so much confidence in the Afghan national army.
The 71-year-old said it was left “without any direction” after the sudden withdrawal of allied forces.
___
MOSCOW — The Uzbek authorities said the Afghan military plane that crashed in Uzbekistan on Sunday with only two pilots on board was downed by the country’s air defense system.
Uzbekistan’s Defense Ministry told Russia’s state RIA Novosti news agency that the country’s air defense system “averted an attempt by an Afghan military plane to illegally cross Uzbekistan’s air border.”
The incident took place in the Surkhandarya region in southeastern Uzbekistan on Sunday and was first reported by local media. Uzbekistan’s Defense Ministry initially said it was studying the reports of the crash, then confirmed the crash took place without offering any details, and only later on Monday revealed the plane was downed.
According to RIA Novosti, two pilots of the plane survived the crash and have been hospitalized in serious condition.
___
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Islamic militant group Hamas has congratulated the Taliban for their swift takeover of Afghanistan and the end to the United States’ 20-year presence in the country.
In a statement on Monday, Hamas welcomed “the defeat of the American occupation on all Afghan land” and praised what it said was the Taliban’s “courageous leadership on this victory, which was the culmination of its long struggle over the past 20 years.”
Hamas, a Palestinian group that opposes Israel’s existence, has governed the Gaza Strip since taking over the area in 2007, a year after it won a Palestinian election. Hamas is considered a terrorist group by Israel, the U.S. and the European Union.
It wished the people of Afghanistan future success and said the ouster of the American troops proves “that the resistance of the peoples, foremost of which is our struggling Palestinian people, is due for victory.”
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VILNIUS, Lithuania — The Baltic country of Lithuania is trying to evacuate 30 Afghan interpreters who helped the country’s troops during peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan, an official said Monday.
“The possibilities for transporting them are decreasing fast,” deputy minister Margiris Abukevicius told reporters. Lithuania estimates that when the family members are included, the figure is of 100 people.
The Baltic country depends on other nations, he said. “The only option is one of partners’ military transport as Lithuania currently has no troops or other personnel of Afghanistan soil” he added.
Vilnius chiefly had troops in the southern Ghor province. The Baltic country joined the multinational operation in Afghanistan in 2002
___
BERLIN — Germany’s defense minister says the country’s military will airlift as many people as possible out of Afghanistan as long as it is possible.
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer told reporters that three A400M military transport planes had left for Kabul on Monday.
The defense minister said: “For the army it’s clear: as long as possible — and this depends extremely on the support by the Americans — we will make as many rounds as we can out of Kabul.”
She added that in addition to German and local staff at the embassy in Afghanistan, Germany is also considering flying out people who had been supportive of the Germans. She said she could not give a concrete figure of how many people were affected.
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The Latest: Taliban leader reported in Kabul for talks
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[
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:49:29+00:00
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2021-08-16 13:56:42
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BEIJING (AP) — Chinese-Canadian pop star Kris Wu was arrested Monday on suspicion of rape in a high-profile case that followed an accusation the singer had sex with a 17-year-old while she was drunk and lured young women into sexual relationships. The prosecutor’s office of the Beijing district of Chaoyang said in a one-sentence statement […]
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A magazine cover featuring Chinese-Canadian pop star Kris Wu is seen at a newsstand in Beijing on Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021. Chinese-Canadian pop star Kris Wu has been detained by Beijing police on suspicion of rape, police announced Saturday, following an accusation the former member of the Korean boy band EXO lured young women into sexual relationships. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
BEIJING (AP) — Chinese-Canadian pop star Kris Wu was arrested Monday on suspicion of rape in a high-profile case that followed an accusation the singer had sex with a 17-year-old while she was drunk and lured young women into sexual relationships.
The prosecutor’s office of the Beijing district of Chaoyang said in a one-sentence statement that Wu’s arrest was formally approved but gave no details of the charges.
Wu, 30, earlier denied the accusation by a teenager that he had sex with her while she was drunk. The accusation prompted an outpouring of sympathetic comments online for the teenager and criticism of Wu.
The teenager said seven women contacted her to say the former member of Korean boy band EXO seduced them with promises of jobs and other opportunities. She said some were under 18 but gave no indication whether any were younger than China’s age of consent of 14.
Wu, known in Chinese as Wu Yifan, denied having sex with partners under 14.
Wu was detained Aug. 1 while police conducted an investigation in response to comments online that he “repeatedly lured young women” to have sex, according to a police statement at that time.
Wu grew up in Guangzhou in China and in Vancouver, British Columbia. Police have said he is a Canadian citizen.
The teenager publicized her accusations on social media and later in an interview with the internet portal NetEase. A day after that interview appeared, at least 10 brands including Porsche and Louis Vuitton broke off endorsement and other deals with Wu.
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Chinese-Canadian pop star arrested on suspicion of rape
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https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/entertainment-news/chinese-canadian-pop-star-arrested-on-suspicion-of-rape/
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[
"Sylvia Hui",
"Lorne Cook",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:53:05+00:00
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2021-08-16 15:24:01
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LONDON (AP) — European leaders said Monday they will press for a unified international approach to dealing with a Taliban government in Afghanistan, as they looked on with dismay at the rapid collapse of two decades of a U.S.-led Western campaign in the country. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron […]
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In this photo provided by the French Defense Ministry, French soldiers prepare to board a military Airbus A400M to evacuate French citizens from Afghanistan, Monday, Aug.16, 2021 in Orleans, central France. France is relocating its embassy in Kabul to the airport to evacuate all citizens still in Afghanistan, initially transferring them to Abu Dhabi. Evacuations have been in progress for weeks and a charter flight put in place by France in mid-July. (Etat-Major des Armees via AP)
LONDON (AP) — European leaders said Monday they will press for a unified international approach to dealing with a Taliban government in Afghanistan, as they looked on with dismay at the rapid collapse of two decades of a U.S.-led Western campaign in the country.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron Monday, stressing the need for a common stand, both on recognizing any future Afghan government and to prevent a humanitarian and refugee crisis.
Both leaders agreed to cooperate at the U.N. Security Council, and Johnson also said he will host a virtual meeting of the Group of Seven leaders on Afghanistan in the next few days. Johnson said on Sunday, “We don’t want anybody to bilaterally recognize the Taliban.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman echoed that sentiment Monday, saying the question of whether there can be a dialogue with the Taliban needs to be discussed internationally.
“We do not have any illusions about the Taliban and the essence of their movement,” said Steffen Seibert, the spokesman.
The French leader said in a speech to the nation Monday night that the fight against “Islamist terrorism in all its forms” would not end.
“Afghanistan cannot again become the sanctuary for terrorism that it was,” Macron said.
He stressed that the U.N. Security Council is the forum for a coordinated response, and added, “We will do everything so that Russia, the United States and Europe can cooperate efficiently because our interests are the same.”
Macron also raised fears of uncontrolled migration to Europe by Afghans, saying that France, Germany and other European countries would work to swiftly develop a “robust, coordinated and united response.”
As far as the crisis inside Afghanistan, European leaders’ hands are tied in many ways: They have little leverage over the Taliban, and they are deeply reluctant to publicly criticize the withdrawal decision by the United States, their powerful NATO ally — or comment on their own role in the failed intervention.
NATO countries were left with little choice but to pull out the roughly 7,000 non-American forces in Afghanistan after President Joe Biden announced in April that he was ending the U.S. involvement in the war by September, 20 years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Malcolm Chalmers, deputy director-general of London’s Royal United Services Institute, said that Britain — which for much for the war contributed the second-largest number of troops to the mission — “was especially upset that the Biden administration didn’t consult it more fully about the decision to withdraw this summer.”
“That is water under the bridge, but the fact that there wasn’t a coordinated alliance approach to the withdrawal makes it even more important now to coordinate a Western response — starting with the question of recognition” of a Taliban government, he said.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said last week that the Taliban “need to understand that they will not be recognized by the international community if they take the country by force.” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has also warned that the militant group would face “isolation” and “lack of international support.”
Borrell is expected to chair an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers to discuss Afghanistan on Tuesday, while NATO envoys will also hold talks.
Meanwhile, Russia’s envoy on Afghanistan said that Moscow will decide whether to recognize the new Taliban government based on its conduct.
Chalmers said “Western influence on the Taliban is very limited” compared with that of Pakistan, Iran and China. And Kurt Volker, former U.S. ambassador to NATO, said that warning the Taliban that they face international isolation is a threat “unmoored from reality.”
“It is part of the Taliban’s ideology to reject modernism and the international community — and the reputation won by forcing the U.S. to leave is worth far more than aid budgets,” he wrote for the Center for European Policy Analysis think tank.
“Indeed, having earned a reputation for abandoning its mission, its friends, and its allies, it is the United States that may actually feel more isolated,” Volker added.
The U.K. has repeatedly alluded to how it had been put in a “very difficult position” to continue the mission once the United States announced its decision to pull out, and British leaders have spoken with a tone of resignation as the situation deteriorated rapidly after NATO’s exit.
“I think it’s fair to say that the U.S. decision to pull out has accelerated things, but this has been in many ways something that has been a chronicle of an event foretold,” Johnson said Sunday.
Other European allies have made veiled criticisms of NATO’s most powerful member country.
Asked Monday whether France and the U.S. were responsible for the collapse of the armed forces and the unfolding humanitarian crisis, Defense Minister Florence Parly said “France hasn’t been in Afghanistan since 2014. There’s no parallel to make with the U.S. involvement.”
Briefing reporters last week about the crisis in Afghanistan, a senior EU official said that “the decisions which were made in this respect were made in NATO.” He did not single out the alliance’s most influential member, but the criticism was implicit.
Italian far-right leader Giorgia Meloni was much more direct, saying: “Let’s give a welcome back to the cynical Obama-Clinton-Biden doctrine: ‘If you can’t win, create chaos.’”
Western governments have also appeared to be caught off guard by the stunning speed of the Taliban’s advance on Kabul.
For months, European ambassadors at NATO and the EU have been unable to answer questions from reporters about what security arrangements might be in place in Afghanistan should the situation deteriorate. Questions about how to protect embassies and the Kabul airport, where chaos reigned Monday as scores sought to flee the country, were never unanswered.
In the past few days, U.S., British and other Western governments have scrambled to evacuate their embassies, their citizens and Afghans who have helped with their military mission as the Taliban seized power.
“All of us, the government, the intelligence services, the international community, all of us misjudged the situation,” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas admitted Monday. “Neither we nor our partners and experts did foresee the speed with with the Afghan security forces withdrew and capitulated.”
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace choked up during an interview as he expressed deep regret that some of those people will be left behind.
“It’s sad and the West has done what it’s done,” he acknowledged. “We have to do our very best to get people out and stand by our obligations and 20 years of sacrifice. … It is what it is.”
___
Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, Colleen Barry in Milan, Angela Charlton and Elaine Ganley in Paris contributed to this report.
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Europe urges unity on Taliban but is quiet on failed mission
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[
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:47:15+00:00
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2021-08-17 20:50:24
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GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) — A former relief pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates was sentenced Tuesday to at least two years behind bars for statutory sexual assault and child pornography, among other charges, in a case involving a girl who was 13 when the encounters began. Felipe Vazquez, 30, was sentenced to two to four years. […]
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GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) — A former relief pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates was sentenced Tuesday to at least two years behind bars for statutory sexual assault and child pornography, among other charges, in a case involving a girl who was 13 when the encounters began.
Felipe Vazquez, 30, was sentenced to two to four years. He has already served almost two years in jail and will be eligible for a parole hearing one month after arriving in prison, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.
Prosecutors said the former All-Star closer was in touch with the girl by text message from 2017 to 2019, the same years he played for Pittsburgh, and once met her outside a home in Scottdale, southeast of Pittsburgh, where, investigators say, he told them he tried to have sex with her.
The girl’s mother found their communication after the family had moved from Pennsylvania to Florida. Vazquez was arrested in September 2019 and is also facing related charges in Florida and Missouri.
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Ex-Pirates pitcher sentenced for sexual conduct with minor
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[
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
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2021-08-20 01:51:17+00:00
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2021-08-16 17:26:48
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WARSAW, Poland (AP) — U.S. company Discovery Inc. has been granted a Dutch license that would allow it to keep broadcasting its independent news channel TVN24 into Poland. The announcement Monday comes as Poland’s state broadcasting authority has for a year and a half refused to renew TVN24’s license, which expires Sept. 26. The independent […]
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FILE – This Thursday, July 8, 2021 file photo shows the Warsaw headquarters of Poland’s TVN broadcaster that is owned by the U.S. company Discovery Inc., in Warsaw, Poland. The U.S. company Discovery Inc. said Monday Aug. 16, 2021, it has been granted a Dutch license that would allow it to keep broadcasting its independent news channel TVN24 into Poland. The announcement comes as Poland’s state broadcasting authority has for a year and a half refused to renew TVN24’s license, which expires Sept. 26. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski, File)
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — U.S. company Discovery Inc. has been granted a Dutch license that would allow it to keep broadcasting its independent news channel TVN24 into Poland.
The announcement Monday comes as Poland’s state broadcasting authority has for a year and a half refused to renew TVN24’s license, which expires Sept. 26. The independent television channel is watched by millions of people daily in Poland and has published reports that criticize the country’s right-wing nationalist government.
In another challenge for Discovery, the lower house of Poland’s parliament gave initial approval last week to a bill which — if it gets final passage and the president’s approval — would force Discovery to sell its controlling share in its Polish network.
“This license does not in any way solve the situation we have with the new law,” said Kasia Kieli, Discovery’s president and managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “The future of TVN and freedom of press in Poland is still at risk.”
Discovery considers the refusal to renew TNV24’s license and the draft media bill to be discriminatory, and many people in Poland view the efforts as an attempt to silence the news outlet.
The government of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki denies that, saying it no longer wants companies from outside of Europe to have controlling stakes in Polish media companies, citing national security and sovereignty issues.
However, President Andrzej Duda on Sunday vowed to defend freedom of speech and the principles of property rights, comments that were widely interpreted as him suggesting he plans to veto the legislation.
The bill has also been sharply criticized by the European Union and many Poles, who view it as an attack on media freedom. It also is seen as a threat to the largest ever U.S. investment in Poland, one the company values at $3 billion.
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said late Monday: “We welcome President Duda’s statement this weekend in support of freedom of expression, the sanctity of contracts, and the shared values that underpin our relationship. We strongly encourage him to act on these values in regard to pending legislation that, if passed in the current form, could severely affect media freedom and the foreign investment climate.”
The company said would only use the Dutch license, granted under European Union regulations, if Poland’s national broadcasting council does not renew TNV24’s license.
“We hope not to need the Dutch license, but are deeply committed to continuing to operate as an independent news network in Poland and central Europe, and serving viewers with reliable and factual journalism,” Kieli said.
Last week Discovery said it had initiated a procedure against Poland at an international arbitration court to defend its investment in Poland, which now includes 24 different television channels.
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Discovery obtains Dutch license for Polish news station
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[
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus",
"De'Anthony Taylor"
] |
2021-08-20 01:49:35+00:00
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2021-08-16 19:35:01
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NEW YORK (AP) — The publisher of such bestsellers as the “What to Expect” books for parents and the “Brain Quest” educational series has reached an agreement to be acquired by Hachette Book Group. Workman Publishing has been an independent company for decades, and also includes the literary imprint Algonquin and the nature publisher Timber […]
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NEW YORK (AP) — The publisher of such bestsellers as the “What to Expect” books for parents and the “Brain Quest” educational series has reached an agreement to be acquired by Hachette Book Group.
Workman Publishing has been an independent company for decades, and also includes the literary imprint Algonquin and the nature publisher Timber Press. Hachette is one of the world’s largest book publishers, with authors ranging from Donna Tartt and James Patterson to J.K. Rowling and David Sedaris.
The acquisition will be subject to approval from the Department of Justice.
“When I recognized that the time had come for Workman to have a new home, my first and foremost goal was to find a place where Workman’s unique culture could prosper long into the future,” Carolan Workman, executive chair and president of Workman, said in a statement Monday. “I truly believe that our two companies will thrive together in this partnership.”
Hachette CEO Michael Pietsch said in a statement that he had long admired Workman, “marveling at the spirit of innovation that drives their business, their strong brand franchises, their focus on backlist, the work culture they have nurtured, and the outstanding reputation they have established among authors, agents, booksellers, and the media.”
Monday’s announcement continues a long-term trend of publishing consolidation, with recent moves including Penguin Random House’s plan to purchase Simon & Schuster and HarperCollins’ agreement to buy Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s trade division.
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Hachette Book Group in deal to acquire Workman Publishing
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[
"Camille Cabrera",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:45:33+00:00
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2021-08-17 10:02:06
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Our team of experts has selected the best Google laptop out of all models. Don't buy a Google laptop before reading these reviews.
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Because Chromebook has an offline connection to Google Drive, it’s easy to remain connected to your work even if you have internet instability.
Which Google laptop is best?
It’s safe to say that the last year has demanded a fair amount of work from home. Fortunately, now is a great time to explore Chromebook laptops options because of the variety and flexibility in the line.
Chromebooks come in a variety of sizes with different memory and RAM to suit the needs of most users on most budgets. A top choice is the ASUS 12.5-Inch Touchscreen Chromebook Flip for its affordable price and intelligent versatility.
What to consider before you buy a Google laptop
Chromebook screen size
The screen size helps to indicate the portability of the overall item, and a larger laptop may be difficult for travel. Conversely, a small screen may not provide the needed visibility for graphic design or other intensive products. Also, consider the standard size of laptop sleeves and the space allotted with an average laptop carrier when choosing screen size.
Google laptop storage
Storage size, or internal memory, is another critical factor as it impacts the amount of information and work you can store on your device. Good internal memory can ensure that larger files or more complicated programs can grow and build over time without requiring the help of an external drive. If your content is storage high, it may be in your best interest to consider a laptop with a larger memory.
Google laptop battery life
If you are traveling with your laptop or planning on using it for an extended period, then battery life is one of the top items to consider. It’s essential to keep in mind that laptops with smaller screens tend to have longer battery charges.
What to look for in a quality Google laptop
Google Drive
Most information and data resides in the offline Google Drive. It’s a feature that makes Chromebooks stand out from the crowd as being offline no longer means being isolated from essential documents.
Streamlined app management
Applications available for Chromebooks continue to increase and grow. Additionally, continuous updates organize and demystify the current app chaos and bring it into a more uniform outfit.
Virtual desktop
A virtual desktop brings more creative possibilities to the table by making information and work more accessible from one Chrome OS. This means you have the power to pull from your work or home computer and use that content for different workspaces.
Cost of Google laptops
Expect to spend around $200-$600 for a good Google laptop. Quality meets affordability at this average price point.
Best Google laptop FAQ
Q: What accessories does a Chromebook come with?
A. Most Chromebooks come with a charger. On average, it’s a typical 65W charger. This means that the charger operates at 65 watts and requires less power than most 95 watt chargers.
Q: How much do Chromebooks weigh?
A. The Chromebooks typically weigh less than 3 pounds. They’re often complimented for their light build.
Best Google laptops
Best of the best Google laptop
The ASUS 12.5-Inch Touchscreen Chromebook Flip stands out from the crowd thanks to a reasonable price point that hovers around $300 with additional tools and applications that boost its inherent bargain value. It has added benefits such as a versatile screen, allowing the computer to function as a laptop and a smart tablet.
The backlit keyboard is great for working long hours well into the night. Another benefit stems from ASUS’s security-minded features such as built-in antivirus protection and the ability to have automatic updates to keep your laptop functioning at the highest level of performance. Google laptops are improving and growing to remain competitive in the technology market. Google makes steady updates and improvements to keep previously purchased items up to the current standard.
ASUS 12.5-Inch Touchscreen Chromebook Flip
What you need to know: A middle ground-priced laptop with dual flexibility that is ideal for work on the go or just typing from the casual coffee shop thanks to the flip screen option.
What you’ll love: It has storage available at 64 GB and a battery that can last well over an 8-hour work shift. It also has 4 GB for RAM and speed. In general, 4 GB is the middle of the road, but more computers are offering 8 GB and even 12 GB as time goes on. However, it’s important to keep in mind that 4 GB still does the job for the price. There are two USB ports to support multiple activities at one time. Easy to carry at just under 3 pounds.
What you should consider: Many customers mentioned that at 12.5 inches, the screen feels slightly uncomfortable as most cases are for the 12-inch screen size. The 12.5-inch screen is a little bulkier than the commonly known 12-inch models.
Where to buy: Amazon
Best bang for the buck
Samsung Chromebook 3
What you need to know: This option has an affordable price point of around $200, so it’s great for personal and professional use.
What you’ll love: It has an 11.6-inch LCD screen with Bluetooth 4.0 and 4GB of computer memory. The hard disk is 16.5 GB, and it weighs just over 2.5 pounds. This is a relatively light laptop that promotes easy daily transportation to and from the office.
What you should consider: Customers mentioned skips, also known as missed-entered letters or symbols, when using the keyboard. However, customers also said that this occurred when typing unusually fast.
Where to buy: Amazon
Best honorable mention Google laptop
Acer Chromebook 14
What you need to know: This option has a generous 14-inch screen and uses Chromebook OS as its operating system with an 8 GB memory.
What you’ll love: Strong battery that lasts up to 12 hours, and this laptop also has a 32 GB hard disk size.
What you should consider: Customers reported a slight lag in speed and found that the keypad design had room for improvement.
Where to buy: Acer and Amazon
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Camille Cabrera 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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[
"Tim Reynolds",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:47:09+00:00
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2021-08-17 19:12:25
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The Milwaukee Bucks are staying home for Christmas, which is becoming an annual perk for reigning NBA champions. The NBA released the schedule for the Dec. 25 quintupleheader on Tuesday, and the Bucks will play host to the Boston Celtics in the second of the day’s games. It marks the eighth consecutive season in which […]
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Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, NBA Champion of the Milwaukee Bucks, who was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, with his mother Veronica, and brother Thanasis pose for a picture at the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021. The NBA champion and finals MVP plans to stay in Greece for a few days, before returning to the U.S., where his girlfriend expects their second child later this month. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
The Milwaukee Bucks are staying home for Christmas, which is becoming an annual perk for reigning NBA champions.
The NBA released the schedule for the Dec. 25 quintupleheader on Tuesday, and the Bucks will play host to the Boston Celtics in the second of the day’s games. It marks the eighth consecutive season in which the reigning champion has gotten to play at home for the holiday.
Also set for Christmas this year: Atlanta opens the day at New York, Golden State visits reigning Western Conference champion Phoenix, Brooklyn plays at the Los Angeles Lakers, and Dallas goes to Utah in the day’s finale.
The full season schedule will be released Friday afternoon, the NBA said. The league is returning to an 82-game season after playing a 72-game slate last season because of the pandemic, and it is expected that the Toronto Raptors — who spent last season playing home games in Tampa, Florida — will be allowed to play in their home city again this season.
Atlanta’s Christmas game will be its first since 1989, ending what was the longest drought in the NBA among franchises with at least one Christmas appearance. Charlotte and Memphis have yet to play on the holiday.
For Lakers star LeBron James, though, Christmas appearances are just about an annual occurrence. And this year’s matchup will likely be of the history-making variety.
If James plays in the Dec. 25 game against the Nets, it would be his 16th Christmas appearance and tie Kobe Bryant for the most in NBA history. If James starts that game, he would break a tie with Bryant for most Christmas starts; Bryant came off the bench once. If James scores more than 12 points, he will also pass Bryant for the most Christmas points; Bryant has 395, James 383. And should the Lakers win, James would become the first player to appear in 11 Christmas victories, breaking a tie with Dwyane Wade.
The Bucks, Lakers, Celtics, Nets, Warriors and Mavericks all played on Christmas last season. Utah and New York return for the first time since 2018, and Phoenix is getting its first Christmas game since 2009.
OPENING WEEK
The NBA also released the schedule of nationally televised games for opening week, and this season will begin where last season ended — in Milwaukee, with the Bucks celebrating a championship.
Ring night in Milwaukee, as expected, is Oct. 17, when the Bucks will open the season against Brooklyn and with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expected to be in attendance, as per tradition, to hand out the jewelry. Milwaukee won a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference semifinals on the Nets’ home floor during its run to its first championship in 50 years.
The other game on the slate for Oct. 17 has Golden State playing at the Lakers.
The nationally televised games on Oct. 18 are Boston at New York and Denver at Phoenix. On Oct. 19, it’ll be Dallas at Atlanta and the Los Angeles Clippers visiting Golden State. And the national doubleheader on Oct. 20 has Brooklyn visiting Philadelphia and Phoenix playing at the Lakers.
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More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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[
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:55:03+00:00
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2021-08-16 12:42:46
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DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — A global human rights group urged the United Nations on Monday to lead an independent investigation into the alleged disappearances of government critics and others at the hands of security forces in Bangladesh, an allegation the country’s government has long denied. New York-based Human Rights Watch listed 86 alleged victims, providing […]
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FILE -In this Jan 12, 2018 file photo, members of Rapid Action Battalion guard an area during an operation in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A global human rights group urged the United Nations on Monday to lead an independent investigation into the alleged disappearances of government critics and others at the hands of security forces in Bangladesh, an allegation the country’s government has long denied. (AP Photo, File)
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — A global human rights group urged the United Nations on Monday to lead an independent investigation into the alleged disappearances of government critics and others at the hands of security forces in Bangladesh, an allegation the country’s government has long denied.
New York-based Human Rights Watch listed 86 alleged victims, providing profiles and details of each case.
It said they remain missing, mainly blaming the Rapid Action Battalion, an elite anti-crime force that is credited by the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with crushing a rise in Islamic militancy in the Muslim-majority nation.
This report, based on more than 115 interviews between July 2020 and March 2021 with alleged victims, family members and witnesses, says authorities have consistently refused to investigate enforced disappearances or to hold those responsible accountable.
The group said authorities use disappearances — and the threat to carry them out — to silence critics, chilling free speech.
“Bangladesh authorities mock victims and routinely obstruct investigations, making clear that the government has no intention of meaningfully addressing enforced disappearances by its security forces,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
“As critics of the government live in fear of being forcibly disappeared, and families of the disappeared have little hope of getting justice from the government, U.N, human rights experts should open an investigation into enforced disappearances,” Adams said.
Referring to data collected by Bangladeshi rights groups, Human Rights Watch said nearly 600 people have been forcibly disappeared by security forces since Hasina took office in 2009. While some victims have been released or appeared in court after weeks or months of secret detention, others were killed in what authorities labeled shootouts with police, it said.
“Scores are still missing. Many of the victims were critics of the ruling Awami League government,” the report said.
Calls to a spokesperson for the Rapid Action Battalion were not returned immediately.
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UN urged to probe alleged disappearances in Bangladesh
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[
"Stephen Wade",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 02:00:08+00:00
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2021-08-16 11:28:15
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TOKYO (AP) — All fans will be barred from the Paralympics in Japan because of the coronavirus pandemic, just as they were from the recently-completed Tokyo Olympics, organizers said Monday. There were a few exceptions made during the Olympics with some fans allowed in outlying areas away from Tokyo. This time, all fans will be […]
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FILE – In this July 22, 2018, file photo, Tokyo 2020 Paralympic mascot “Someity” stands at stage during their debut event in Tokyo. Tokyo organizers said Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, what everyone expected: fans will be barred from the Paralympic Games during the pandemic, as they were from the just-completed Tokyo Olympics.(AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
TOKYO (AP) — All fans will be barred from the Paralympics in Japan because of the coronavirus pandemic, just as they were from the recently-completed Tokyo Olympics, organizers said Monday.
There were a few exceptions made during the Olympics with some fans allowed in outlying areas away from Tokyo. This time, all fans will be barred except the possibility of some children attending a few unspecified events.
Organizers have also asked the public not to come out to view road events.
The decision was announced after a meeting with International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons, organizing committee president Seiko Hashimoto, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa.
The Paralympics open on Aug. 24 with about 4,400 athletes, a far smaller event than the Olympics with 11,000 athletes. But the Paralympics come as new infections have accelerated in Tokyo, which may expose an athlete population that is more vulnerable to COVID-19.
Parsons, speaking at a news conference, said there was no room for complacency in the wake of the Olympics.
“In light of the current case numbers in Tokyo and wider Japan, everyone attending these games must be vigilant,” Parsons said.
New infections in Tokyo tripled during the 17 days of the Olympics, although medical experts said the surge was not directly linked the Tokyo Games. Rather, experts suggested an indirect effect as the public was distracted and lulled into a false sense of security that staging the Games offered.
With the situation growing worse, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Monday said a state of emergency in Tokyo and other areas will be extended until Sept. 12. The state of emergency has been in force since July 12 and was to end later this month.
The Paralympics end on Sept. 5.
“The surge in infections is reaching alarming record highs,” Suga said after meeting with other government ministers.
On Friday, Tokyo logged 5,773 cases, a new high. On Sunday, the Japanese capital reported 4,295 cases. The rise in infections has severely strained the medical system. Experts say the situation is getting out of control and some call it “a disaster.”
Japan has attributed 15,400 deaths to COVID-19.
Dr. Haruo Ozaki, president of the Tokyo Medical Association, said in an interview with regional newspaper Tokyo Shimbun published Saturday that a significant number of people are still unvaccinated, and characterized the virus situation for the Paralympics as worse than it was during the Olympics.
Estimates suggest about 37% of the Japanese population has been fully vaccinated.
Ozaki called having no fans “a minimum necessity” and attributed the surge to the delta variant.
He called holding the Paralympics “a political decision, but the judgment by the medial side is that it will be difficult.”
“The Olympics,” Ozaki added, “is a festival and might have affected the people in ways to loosen up and served as an indirect cause of rising cases.”
___
More AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2020-tokyo-olympics and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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[
"Brian Melley",
"Associated Press",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus",
"De'Anthony Taylor"
] |
2021-08-20 01:50:06+00:00
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2021-08-16 19:13:40
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — New York real estate heir Robert Durst testified Monday that he lied for decades about sending police a note directing them to the dead body of his best friend because he feared it would implicate him in the killing. It was so hard to fathom that Susan Berman’s killer was not […]
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New York real estate scion Robert Durst, 78, answers questions from defense attorney Dick DeGuerin, left, while testifying in his murder trial at the Inglewood Courthouse on Monday, Aug. 9, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. Durst is charged with the 2000 murder of Susan Berman inside her Benedict Canyon home. He testified Monday that he did not kill his best friend Berman. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times via AP, Pool)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — New York real estate heir Robert Durst testified Monday that he lied for decades about sending police a note directing them to the dead body of his best friend because he feared it would implicate him in the killing.
It was so hard to fathom that Susan Berman’s killer was not the same person who sent police a note directing them to her “cadaver” that Durst even questioned the plausibility of that explanation.
“I have difficulty believing it myself,” he testified in his defense in Los Angeles County Superior Court. “It’s very difficult to believe, to accept, that I wrote the letter and did not kill Susan Berman.”
Durst, 78, has denied killing Berman during four days of testimony at his murder trial.
Durst, the estranged eccentric heir to a commercial real estate fortune in New York, is only charged with Berman’s December 2000 killing. But Los Angeles prosecutors have introduced evidence of a presumed killing he is suspected of committing in New York and one he admitted to in Texas to prove the Berman case.
Prosecutors say Durst killed Berman to silence her before she could tell New York investigators how she provided a false alibi for him when his first wife vanished in 1982. They say he murdered a Galveston, Texas, neighbor in 2001 when the man discovered his identity while he was in hiding after New York police reopened the investigation into his wife’s disappearance.
Durst has denied killing Kathie Durst and has never been charged with a crime connected with her disappearance. Her body has never been found, but she has been legally declared dead. He was acquitted of murder in the killing of Morris Black in 2001 after testifying he shot the man in self-defense during a struggle for a gun.
Durst, who skipped bail in the Galveston case before eventually being arrested for shoplifting a sandwich in Pennsylvania, testified that he considered committing suicide while he was on the lam.
“I was going to shoot myself because I couldn’t imagine being a fugitive,” he said.
Durst, who is frail and suffering from a series of health problems, spoke in a soft, raspy voice as he denied killing Berman, his longtime pal who served as a spokeswoman when his wife went missing.
He showed no emotion describing how he found Berman lifeless when he showed up at her Los Angeles house during a planned visit a few days before Christmas.
Durst said there were cars parked out front and he found a note taped to her front door telling him she had gone for a walk. No one answered when he repeatedly rang the doorbell and knocked, so he let himself in with a key she gave him.
Her dogs barked incessantly, which was common, and he found a rear door to the house open and went into the backyard searching for her.
When he returned to the house, the front door was open and the note was gone. He said he may have left the door open after entering.
He found Berman lying on her back on a bedroom floor.
“I did a double take when I saw Susan,” he said. “I put my hand over her face … to see if she was breathing, to see if I felt breath. It felt cold. Then I grabbed her by her arms … her head just hung down. I could see that her hair was in some kind of liquid.”
He initially thought she was injured from a fall, but eventually concluded someone killed her.
He tried calling 911 from her home, but the battery in her cordless phone was dead. He decided to leave the house after hearing neighbors walking by and thinking he would be suspected if he was found inside with the body.
Durst said he stopped at a pay phone near Sunset Boulevard and dialed 911. He didn’t want to provide his name to the dispatcher and considered providing a phony name. But he concluded his distinct voice would eventually be recognized on the recording, so he hung up.
“I decided that instead of calling 911 I would send police a letter telling them that Susan was dead in her house,” Durst said.
He mailed a note to police that simply said, “CADAVER” and included Berman’s address. The envelope misspelled Beverly Hills as “Beverley.”
Durst said he didn’t remember the details of writing the note because he was in a fog after taking an opioid pain-reliever the night before for a migraine headache.
Durst had always denied writing the note — to police and documentary filmmakers who confronted him with a letter he once sent Berman with nearly identical handwriting and the same misspelling of Beverly.
After the judge ruled that prosecutors could present evidence showing he wrote the note, his lawyers conceded before trial that Durst penned it. His testimony was the first time he’s publicly described finding Berman and writing the note.
Durst denied killing Berman and said he had no motive to kill her. He denied that Berman, who was was in financial trouble and had been supported by him over the years, had been blackmailing him.
“Someone must have had a reason, a motive, whatever, to kill Susan Berman,” he said. “I had no reason to kill Susan Berman.”
When Durst wraps up his questioning from his lawyer, he is expected to come under withering cross-examination from Deputy District Attorney John Lewin.
During arguments Monday over evidence, Lewin said Durst had repeatedly lied on the witness stand.
“He has perjured himself probably 100 times and that’s not hyperbole,” Lewin said. “He’s testified inconsistently with other statements he’s given under oath.”
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Robert Durst admits ‘cadaver’ note made him appear guilty
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[
"Ken Ritter",
"Sam Metz",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:50:29+00:00
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2021-08-17 01:21:40
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LAS VEGAS (AP) — Large events held in Nevada can add themselves to the growing number of places in the U.S. where people in crowds are asked to prove they have been inoculated against COVID-19, the governor said Monday. Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak said that large indoor venues in cities like Las Vegas and Reno […]
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Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak provides an update on COVID-19 in Nevada at the Sawyer Building in Las Vegas on Monday, Aug. 16, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Large events held in Nevada can add themselves to the growing number of places in the U.S. where people in crowds are asked to prove they have been inoculated against COVID-19, the governor said Monday.
Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak said that large indoor venues in cities like Las Vegas and Reno will be allowed to opt out of the state’s mask requirements if they verify their guests are vaccinated.
“This is cutting edge. There’s no other venues in the country that are doing this,” Sisolak said. “I think it is going to get people more people wanting to go to an event because they know that when they walk in that arena, or that stadium, everybody’s vaccinated.”
Hours after the announcement, the Las Vegas Raiders went public with a plan made possible by the new directive to require vaccines — and not masks. Starting at the Raiders’ September 13 game against the Baltimore Ravens, fully vaccinated fans will not have to wear masks — a first-in-the-NFL policy.
The Raiders will offer vaccines prior to games. Franchise owner Mark Davis said the policy resulted from discussions with Sisolak and community leaders. Sisolak said that the plan was not developed for one operator or venue.
Venues with capacities greater than 4,000 will be eligible for the exemption. Partially vaccinated people and children ineligible to receive vaccines can attend venues that opt in, but must remain masked. Sisolak made clear that the policy was not a mandate and was voluntary for venues.
He said he’d seen pictures of unmasked fans at recent soccer and football games and framed his directive as an option for event organizers who don’t want to enforce mask mandates.
“This gives an option for event organizers to choose between requiring masks indoors for all attendees — regardless of vaccination status — or making the choice to only allow vaccinated individuals into their events, and letting the fully vaccinated take their masks off,” he said.
The move to expand proof of vaccination requirements in one of the country’s entertainment capitals comes days after officials in New York, San Francisco and New Orleans adopted proof-of-vaccination measures for indoor public spaces, conventions or concert halls.
Some large venues in Las Vegas have for weeks been requiring conference and concert attendees to provide proof of vaccination status.
The Vegas Golden Knights began using the the mobile app CLEAR in May as the 18,000-seat T-Mobile Arena went to full capacity for NHL playoffs. The app also screens attendees with a health questionnaire before they enter a venue.
MGM Resorts International, owner of nine major Las Vegas Strip resorts and conference centers, and Sands Expo Convention Center owner, Las Vegas Sands, adopted the same protocol several months ago.
In addition to making events feel safer, Sisolak said the incentive to attend events unmasked would encourage more people to get vaccinated.
MGM Resorts, the state’s largest employer, announced separately Monday that new hires and salaried employees who don’t work from home will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 15.
President Joe Biden has urged cities to adopt proof-of-vaccination requirements for restaurants and other businesses. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell called proof of vaccination the best way to protect businesses instead of closures.
Unlike cities that have adopted proof of vaccination measures for restaurants, Nevada’s new measures are tailored to tourism and the large events that power the state’s economy.
Sisolak said he didn’t plan to mandate proof of vaccination measures for restaurants or small venues, but any private business could adopt measures if they choose to.
Elsewhere, in Republican-led states like Florida and Texas, governors and lawmakers are prohibiting so-called “vaccine passports” and barring businesses from denying service to unvaccinated patrons.
Nevada has progressively adopted tighter measures amid the summer’s variant-fueled surge. Sisolak has mandated regular weekly testing for those among the state’s more than 27,000 public employees who don’t get vaccinated. His proposal to require vaccines at public colleges and universities is scheduled go before the state board of health on Friday.
State health officials reported that just under 60% of people ages 12 and older have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 49.4% have been fully vaccinated. In Las Vegas, the figures are 60.6% and 48.5%.
A surge in coronavirus cases statewide has slowed somewhat, health officials said Friday as they pointed to the governor’s order to quickly reimpose an indoor mask mandate July 30, following guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
____
Metz reported from Carson City. He is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
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Nevada governor: No masks at events that require vaccines
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[
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:59:55+00:00
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2021-08-16 12:16:04
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NEW YORK (AP) — Megan Rapinoe is such a fan of #MeToo pioneer Tarana Burke that the soccer star chose Burke’s upcoming memoir, “Unbound,” for her new book club before she had even read it. “She is such an incredible person and whatever it is she’s writing will be worth everyone reading,” Rapinoe said during […]
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FILE – Soccer player Megan Rapinoe poses for photos on the red carpet of the Women’s Sports Foundation’s 40th annual Salute to Women in Sports in New York on Oct. 16, 2019. Rapinoe has selected #MeToo founder Tarana Burke’s memoir, “Unbound,” for her new book club. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — Megan Rapinoe is such a fan of #MeToo pioneer Tarana Burke that the soccer star chose Burke’s upcoming memoir, “Unbound,” for her new book club before she had even read it.
“She is such an incredible person and whatever it is she’s writing will be worth everyone reading,” Rapinoe said during a recent telephone interview.
Rapinoe is still recovering from the summer Olympics in Tokyo, where the U.S. women’s soccer team received a bronze medal, and understandably has had little time or energy for reading. She says she has made several choices for her online book club, sponsored by Literati, a subscription book company that also has teamed with Roxane Gay and Steph Curry among others.
Rapinoe declined to name any other selections, some of which she has read, but said all have similar themes of equality and social justice.
“This allows people to take a more in-depth journey, whether through sexuality or racism or white privilege, or whatever it is,” she says. “And I don’t have the answers. I’m not a finished product. I’ll be getting right in the mix with everyone else.”
Literati announced Monday that Rapinoe’s club will be called “The Call In.” Burke’s memoir comes out Sept. 14 and book club members will receive a copy Sept. 1.
____
On the Internet: https://literati.com/book-clubs/megan-rapinoe/
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Goals: Megan Rapinoe launches ‘The Call In’ book club
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https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/sports/goals-megan-rapinoe-launches-the-call-in-book-club/
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[
"Daria Litvinova",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:55:10+00:00
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2021-08-16 15:29:46
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MOSCOW (AP) — An Afghan military plane crashed in Uzbekistan over the weekend, and Uzbek authorities on Monday issued conflicting reports on the cause. The wreckage came as dozens of Afghan military aircraft carrying hundreds of servicemen reportedly reached Uzbekistan, among the thousands fleeing the country after the Taliban recaptured the Afghan capital of Kabul. […]
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MOSCOW (AP) — An Afghan military plane crashed in Uzbekistan over the weekend, and Uzbek authorities on Monday issued conflicting reports on the cause. The wreckage came as dozens of Afghan military aircraft carrying hundreds of servicemen reportedly reached Uzbekistan, among the thousands fleeing the country after the Taliban recaptured the Afghan capital of Kabul.
The plane crash in southeastern Uzbekistan, in the Surkhandarya region on the border with Afghanistan, was first reported by local media. Uzbekistan’s Defense Ministry initially said it was studying videos and reports of the crash, then confirmed that the plane did crash, without elaborating.
Later Monday, Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti reported that it was told by the Uzbek Defense Ministry that Uzbekistan’s air defense system had downed the plane and “averted an attempt by an Afghan military plane to illegally cross Uzbekistan’s air border.” Two pilots, the agency said, were hospitalized in serious condition.
Within hours, the Prosecutor General’s office in Uzbekistan issued a statement saying that an Afghan military plane had collided with an Uzbek plane that was scrambled to escort it to the airport at Termez, a city in Surkhandarya.
The office later retracted that statement, which also alleged that 22 warplanes and 24 military helicopters from Afghanistan carrying 585 servicemen “illegally crossed” into Uzbek airspace over the weekend and were forced by Uzbek authorities to land at Termez.
The Prosecutor General’s office later apologized for a “hasty” statement on the messaging app Telegram and said it was not based “verified data from the relevant authorities.”
The Associated Press couldn’t immediately reconcile all the conflicting reports or independently verify them.
Reports of the plane crash in Uzbekistan appeared Monday as thousands of Afghans packed into the Kabul airport, rushing the tarmac and pushing onto planes in desperate attempts to flee the country a day after the Taliban overthrew the country’sWestern-backed government. U.S. troops fired warning shots as they struggled to manage the chaotic evacuation.
Caroline Tabler, a communications director for Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, said the GOP lawmaker’s office was working urgently to support Afghan pilots fleeing from the Taliban to Uzbekistan. She appeared to confirm that at least some Afghan military personnel had reached Uzbekistan.
“We’re working with an intermediary who’s been in touch with the pilots,” she told the AP. “We have not heard from them since last night (Washington) time. We know Uzbekistan has taken their cellphones. Our primary concern is making sure Uzbekistan does not turn them over to the Taliban. We are frantically reaching out to the State Department on this case and trying to get them asylum and literally can’t get a response.”
A plane carrying more than 100 Afghan servicemen landed in Tajikistan on Monday, the Tajik Foreign Ministry said. Officials told Russia’s state news agency Tass that Tajikistan received an SOS signal and allowed a plane bound from Afghanistan to land at an airport in the Khatlon province, which borders both Afghanistan and Uzbekistan’s Surkhandarya region.
On Sunday, Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry reported that 84 Afghan servicemen crossed the border into Uzbekistan, asking for assistance. The group was detained by border guards and included three wounded soldiers who needed medical help.
The men were offered food and temporary accommodation in Uzbekistan, and the ministry said it was in touch with Afghan officials regarding the return of the Afghan soldiers.
___
Zeke Miller contributed to this report from Washington.
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Afghan military plane crashes in Uzbekistan; cause disputed
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https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/news/u-s-world/uzbekistan-says-it-downed-afghan-military-plane-crossing-in/
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[
"Brett Dvoretz",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:58:24+00:00
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2021-08-16 18:48:59
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Choosing the right coffee table may be easy for those with a keen eye for design, but others may struggle with this.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arklatexhomepage.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Fhome-br%2Ftables-br%2Fbest-coffee-table%2F.json
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Some coffee tables are prone to damage from moisture. To help prevent this, consider spreading out some coasters for your guests to place their drinks.
The best coffee table for your household
A coffee table is a vital piece of furniture that ties the whole living room together. However, to do this, it needs to work well with your available space and the decor you are trying to cultivate. This means buying one that is just the right size and style for your home.
Choosing the right coffee table may be easy for those with a keen eye for design, but others may struggle with this. If you fall into this former group, you may want to consider a model that is a blend of different styles, such as the Emerald Home Chandler Coffee Table. This one mixes rustic, industrial and mid-century modern design elements, so it matches well in various homes.
What to know before you buy a coffee table
What style do you like?
Coffee tables are just as much decor as functional items, so it is essential to choose one that matches the style you are trying to cultivate in your home. Thankfully, they come in nearly any look imaginable, so this shouldn’t be too difficult. Following are some common coffee table styles, but this is by no means an exhaustive list.
Modern or contemporary coffee tables usually have sleek, streamlined designs without any elaborate details. They may feature geometric elements or patterns, tend to produce a somewhat formal ambiance and use nearly any material.
usually have sleek, streamlined designs without any elaborate details. They may feature geometric elements or patterns, tend to produce a somewhat formal ambiance and use nearly any material. Rustic coffee tables will often have an aged or weathered appearance and nearly always have some wood elements. They tend to look casual and often have prominent hardware made from wrought iron or other dark-colored metal.
will often have an aged or weathered appearance and nearly always have some wood elements. They tend to look casual and often have prominent hardware made from wrought iron or other dark-colored metal. Coastal coffee tables tend to be crafted from light-colored wood or feature jute, rattan or seagrass elements. They are also generally casual in appearance.
tend to be crafted from light-colored wood or feature jute, rattan or seagrass elements. They are also generally casual in appearance. Industrial coffee tables usually have hard lines, an edgy aesthetic and strong metal elements. The mix of materials and design features in industrial coffee tables allows them to blend in well with various decor themes. However, their striking appearance means they tend to stand out as a focal point.
Spacing
After determining what style of coffee table you want, the next thing to consider is how particular models will fit in your home. You need to consider both the size and shape of any coffee table you are thinking about purchasing.
Most interior designers recommend that your coffee table be roughly two-thirds the length of your couch. Of course, this also depends on how much space you have in the room and the shape of your coffee table. If you opt for a circular or square coffee table, choosing one that is two-thirds the length of the couch could easily be too big and look like it takes up too much of the room.
As a general guideline, rectangular and oval coffee tables pair well with standard straight couches, and square and circular coffee tables pair best with L-shaped couches.
Features to look for in a quality coffee table
Materials
Coffee tables can use various materials, but wood, glass and metal are the most common. Many people opt for wood because it is durable and comes in a variety of finishes. Depending on the design, it can blend in nicely into a variety of different decor themes too. The biggest downside to wood is that it is prone to denting and scratches.
If you are worried about a wooden table getting scratched up in your home, you may want to consider glass instead. Glass coffee tables are tempered, making them very strong and easy to wipe clean. Plus, you won’t have to worry about them potentially absorbing the condensation dripping off a beverage. However, due to the transparent nature of glass, anything you keep on the lower shelf will be on full display at all times.
Metal is most often used in a coffee table’s frame or decorative hardware rather than as the tabletop. It is often blended with glass or wood and is a highly durable material.
Storage
Coffee tables may be basic platforms on top of four legs, or they can incorporate storage space for your entertainment center remotes and other items. Common types of storage built into coffee tables include drawers or open shelves below the main table. There are also some that feature closed cabinets or even dedicated holders for magazines or books.
A hinged top is another popular type of storage found in coffee tables. In these, the table platform lifts to reveal a hidden compartment.
Choosing a model with some form of built-in storage helps keep your living room looking clutter-free, especially for those whose homes are limited in storage space or whose draws and cabinets are full of other items.
Lift-top
Similar to coffee tables with a hinged top, models with a lift-top have a table platform that lifts. However, rather than being hinged on one side, the entire platform raises to use as a table for eating or performing other activities. Usually, these will also have the same storage space hidden beneath the tabletop as hinged models.
How much you can expect to spend on a coffee table
Like most other furniture pieces, coffee tables run the gamut from very affordable options up to fancy, high-end models from designer names that can cost well into the thousands. Most people can expect to find a quality coffee table that fits their needs from $75-$250, though if you want something made from solid wood or premium materials, you may have to pay more than that.
Coffee table FAQ
How much weight can a coffee table support?
A. Every coffee table is different, so there is no definitive answer as to how much weight a coffee table can support. Certain materials, such as wood or metal, will support more weight than glass, so keep this in mind if you want a table that can support a lot of weight. The weight capacity should be included in the product manual. You can sometimes find it in the product listing too.
How much space should there be between my couch and coffee table?
A. There should be enough space between your couch and your coffee table that you can comfortably walk around it. For most people, this is somewhere between 14 and 18 inches. This is close enough that you should be able to place a drink down or grab the remote easily, but far enough that it won’t be in the way when getting up from the couch.
What is the best coffee table to buy?
Top coffee table
Emerald Home Chandler Coffee Table
What you need to know: With mid-century modern, industrial and rustic design elements, the Emerald Home Chandler coffee table fits in well with various decor themes.
What you’ll love: It comes in more colors than most other tables and has a solid construction that makes it feel very stable.
What you should consider: The finish tends to scratch easily.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top coffee table for the money
Monarch Specialties Modern Coffee Table
What you need to know: Though it isn’t the most durable option, the Monarch Specialities Modern coffee table has an attractive design and a good price.
What you’ll love: It has clean lines for a somewhat minimalist look, and you can buy it as a set with a matching end table.
What you should consider: Many units seem to get damaged during shipping.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Worth checking out
Sauder Carson Forge Lift-Top Coffee Table
What you need to know: A sturdy and versatile table with a rusting appeal, this model is ideal for those cultivating country-chic decor.
What you’ll love: It features a lift-top and several storage areas, making it a highly functional option.
What you should consider: Assembling it can be tricky.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Brett Dvoretz 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 coffee table
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https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/reviews/br/home-br/tables-br/best-coffee-table/
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[
"Kristin M. Hall",
"Associated Press",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus",
"De'Anthony Taylor"
] |
2021-08-20 01:50:00+00:00
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2021-08-16 15:56:02
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NASHVILLE, Ten.. (AP) — R&B legend Ray Charles, who helped redefine country music in the Civil Rights era, and Grammy-winning duo The Judds will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The Country Music Association on Monday announced the new class of Hall of Fame members, who will be formally inducted in a […]
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FILE – Ray Charles, performs during the taping of “Ray Charles: 50 Years in Music, uh-huh,” a benefit musical gala for Starlight/Starbright Foundation in Pasadena, Calif. on Sept. 20, 1991. Charles will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)
NASHVILLE, Ten.. (AP) — R&B legend Ray Charles, who helped redefine country music in the Civil Rights era, and Grammy-winning duo The Judds will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The Country Music Association on Monday announced the new class of Hall of Fame members, who will be formally inducted in a ceremony in 2022.
Charles, who died in 2004, showed the commercial potential of country music when he released “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music” in 1962, a genre-defying personal project to the Georgia-born singer and piano player.
Charles grew up listening to the Grand Ole Opy and his record, which was considered a risk at the time, became one of the best selling country albums of the era. His version of “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” spent five weeks on top of the Billboard 100 chart and remains one of his most popular songs.
He later recorded a duets album featuring country legends like Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash. Nelson in particular has lauded Charles’ impact on the genre and they had a 1985 No. 1 duet together called “Seven Spanish Angels.”
“Needless to say, Ray Charles loved country music,” said Valerie Ervin, president of the Ray Charles Foundation, in a statement. “As a matter of fact, he risked a lot in 1962 when he decided to record ‘Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music.’ I cannot express enough how happy and honored Ray Charles would be at this moment in time, as I am for him. Congratulations to all the fellow inductees and as Ray Charles would say, ‘That is so nice.’”
Over the years, Charles’ impact on country music has been more widely recognized, with a major museum exhibition on Charles at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and a 2019 Opry television special dedicated to him.
Naomi Judd and her daughter, Wynonna, were the most successful duo in country music in the 1980s, with more than a dozen No. 1 hits, including “Mama, He’s Crazy,” “Love Can Build a Bridge” and “Grandpa (Tell Me ’bout the Good Old Days).”
“We had a such a stamp of originality on what we were trying to do,” Naomi said in an interview after the announcement.
Originally from Kentucky, Naomi was working as a nurse in the Nashville area when she and Wynonna started singing together professionally. Their unique harmonies, together with elements of acoustic music, bluegrass and blues, made them stand out in the genre at the time.
The Judds released six studio albums and an EP between 1984 and 1991 and won nine CMA Awards and seven from the Academy of Country Music. They earned a total of five Grammy Awards together on hits like “Why Not Me” and “Give A Little Love.”
In 1990, Naomi Judd announced her retirement from performing due to chronic hepatitis. Wynonna has continued her solo career and they have occasionally reunited for special performances.
The Hall of Fame also announced a tie this year for the category of recording musician between Eddie Bayers and Pete Drake.
Bayers, a drummer in Nashville for decades who worked on 300 platinum records, is a member of the Grand Ole Opry band. He regularly played on records for The Judds, Ricky Skaggs, George Strait, Alan Jackson and Kenny Chesney. Bayers is the first drummer to be inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Drake, a pedal steel guitar player and a member of Nashville’s A-team of skilled session musicians, played on hits like “Stand By Your Man” by Tammy Wynette and “He Stopped Loving Her Today” by George Jones. Drake, who died in 1988, is the first pedal steel guitar player to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Drake’s widow, Rose Drake, said that her husband’s work with George Harrison and Peter Frampton introduced a whole new audience to the sound of the steel guitar.
__
This story has been updated to correct that the Country Music Association announced the new class of Hall of Fame members.
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Ray Charles, The Judds to join Country Music Hall of Fame
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https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/entertainment-news/ray-charles-the-judds-to-join-country-music-hall-of-fame/
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[
"Derek Walborn",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:57:22+00:00
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2021-08-16 18:52:31
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Our team of experts has selected the best portable CD player out of hundreds of models. Don't buy a portable CD player before reading these reviews.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arklatexhomepage.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Felectronics-br%2Faudio-video-accessories-br%2Fbest-portable-cd-player%2F.json
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Portable CD players allow you to listen to music on a physical medium for as long as you own it. Streaming alternatives require you to pay a subscription fee for access that can potentially change or expire.
Which portable CD player is best?
In the age of digital streaming, a portable CD player may seem like a relic from a bygone era. However, they remain a popular way for people to enjoy their favorite music without paying for expensive subscription services or data plans. Many people also have CD collections that include songs or albums that are not available on streaming services.
For those who favor physical media, or simply want to enjoy their music commercial-free and streaming interruptions, the GPX Portable Cd Player with Bluetooth provides the best CD player listening experience. It has modern features and a streamlined design.
What to know before you buy a portable CD player
Types of portable CD players
Personal CD players are designed for maximum portability and aren’t much larger than a CD itself. While bulkier than their ancestral cassette tape players, their clamshell design makes them small enough to fit into large pockets or bags. Personal CD players, as their name suggests, are meant for solo listening via headphones. However, there are small speaker systems available that you can plug into them.
All-in-one portable CD players have a boombox format. They can be picked up and moved easily but aren’t for travel. Their built-in speakers make them ideal for listening to music with others.
Headphones
While some personal portable CD players come with headphones, most will not be of very high quality. You will likely want to provide your own pair. Keep in mind that the majority of portable personal CD players do not support wireless earbuds.
What to look for in a quality portable CD player
Skip protection
A problem inherent to CD players is the audio skipping that results from the device being bumped or vibrated. Personal portable CD players, meant to be used while walking or otherwise on the move, will have skip protection technology that prevents interruption even during high activity. Some models have more skip protection than others, so consider what you may be doing while listening to make the best choice for you.
Battery life
Modern portable CD players will efficiently run for at least 6 hours before needing fresh batteries. Some models include rechargeable battery packs, while others require traditional disposable batteries. Using special features such as bass boosts may shorten battery life. If you will be in situations where you feel you may regularly drain your CD player’s batteries, consider having extras or a charger on hand.
Radio tuner
Some portable CD players include an FM radio tuner. This allows you to tune in to any available radio stations and listen to those as well as CDs.
CD formats
All portable CD players will play original CDs without issue. However, you may run into trouble if your collection has copied or “burned” discs. To ensure that you can play these CDs, look for a model that can play CD-R, CD-RW and MP3 CD formats.
How much you can expect to spend on a portable CD player
All-in-one portable CD players cost $20-$100, while personal CD players cost $25-$60. Keep in mind that many personal CD players will also require an additional investment in headphones.
Portable CD player FAQ
Q. How many CDs will a portable CD player hold?
A. Portable CD players will only allow one CD at a time. For easy access to more CDs, consider a CD wallet or binder.
Q. Can I run my portable CD player with an AC adapter?
A. Most portable CD players, especially boombox-style models, can run using an AC adapter. However, these are not typically included with personal CD players, as they are for use on the go.
Q. Do portable CD players require maintenance?
A. CD players read discs using a laser emitted from a delicate lens that will occasionally require cleaning. This requires using a special cleaning disc with small brush attachments that are inserted into your player to remove dust and debris from the unit’s lens.
What’s the best portable CD player to buy?
Top portable CD player
GPX Portable Cd Player with Bluetooth
What you need to know: Bluetooth technology and extreme skip protection bring this portable CD player into the modern age.
What you’ll love: This CD player features Bluetooth wireless technology, meaning that you can pair it with your favorite wireless earbuds or speaker. Up to 100 seconds of skip protection for MP3 CDs make this model an excellent choice for working out.
What you should consider: Bluetooth connectivity may not be compatible across all devices. Included earbuds are low quality.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top portable CD player for the money
Studebaker Joggable Personal CD Player
What you need to know: This personal CD player includes wired earbuds, a retro design and an FM radio tuner.
What you’ll love: Available in three stylish colors, this model’s 60 seconds of skip protection means you will rarely face any interruption in play.
What you should consider: Some users report that this CD player feels a bit cheaper than they would have hoped for the price.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Jensen Portable CD Player
What you need to know: This quality, personal CD player includes a bass boost feature to enhance your music.
What you’ll love: A large, easy-to-read LCD and slick, modern look make this model unique among its peers. This CD player can read multiple disc formats.
What you should consider: Some users have expressed disappointment in the sound quality of this CD player, even while using premium headphones.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Derek Walborn 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.arklatexhomepage.com
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Best portable CD player
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https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/audio-video-accessories-br/best-portable-cd-player/
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[
"Jordan C. Woika",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:46:00+00:00
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2021-08-17 10:00:55
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Our team of experts has selected the best door stopper out of hundreds of options. Don't buy a door stopper before reading these reviews.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arklatexhomepage.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Fhome-br%2Fhome-improvement-br%2Fbest-door-stopper%2F.json
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en
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Think about how heavy your door is when purchasing a door stopper. Heavier doors can quickly wear out rubber door stoppers, which will then need replacing.
Which door stopper is best?
Door stoppers are useful in a wide array of situations. You can use a door stopper to keep your door open while you haul in several trips of groceries or to prevent a door from swinging into your wall and damaging it. Whatever your situation, there are several types of door stoppers to help.
The best door stopper for the widest set of needs is the Jamm Door Stopper. Made of tough polymer plastic, this under-door stop secures the door from the end instead of the middle to secure the door in both directions.
Types of door stopper
Wedge
This is the most popular type of door stopper. As the name suggests, this type of door stopper wedges underneath the door to prevent it from closing. They vary widely in their construction, coming in different sizes, weights and materials.
Kickdown
This door stopper has to be installed on the bottom of the door using screws or an adhesive. It has a hinged “foot” design that can be raised or lowered at will using your foot to interact with the stopper.
Bumper
Also called a wall protector, this type of door stopper is meant to prevent the door from swinging too far open. It can attach to the wall, the floor or the bottom of the door, but it does require installation. It avoids denting the door by using a soft, often round head.
What to know before you buy a door stopper
Function
Your needs dictate the type of door stopper you require. Wedges and kickdowns keep the door open with some wedges preventing movement in both directions, while bumpers prevent the door from swinging into the wall and damaging it.
Height
Make sure the maximum height of your door stopper and the gap between your door and the floor are compatible by measuring. Wedges can be too short for the door and if the maximum door stop height and the door gap are the same, the door stopper might not hold the door effectively. For doors with large gaps, a kickdown door stop could be required.
Installation
For kickdown and bumper door stops, you’ll have to do some installation with either screws or adhesive. Screws are more secure, but you’ll have to put holes in your door or wall. Adhesive won’t damage your door or wall, but isn’t as secure and won’t last forever.
Floor type
Door stoppers come in all kinds of materials to best suit the type of floor they’ll be used on. Carpet, hardwood and vinyl floors all have different requirements.
Door stopper features
Multidirectional
Generally door stoppers only work in one direction. Multidirectional under-door wedge stoppers prevent movement in both directions by being placed on the end of a door instead of the middle.
Holder
If you’re using a wedge door stopper, what are you supposed to do with it when you aren’t using it? Some wedge door stoppers will come with holders that can be adhered to the door or nearby wall for easy and convenient storage when not in use.
Design
Most door stoppers are ugly, drab hunks of plastic. Select a door stopper with some color or fancy design work to spice up your space.
Door stopper cost
Door stoppers are very affordable no matter the type, design or material. A few dollars will get you an effective, though underwhelming, door stopper, while the $10-$15 range will give you as many options to choose from as you could want.
Door stopper FAQ
Can a door stopper be used to protect me from intruders?
A. While door stoppers can provide a small amount of extra security by upping the required amount of pressure needed to force a door open, their primary purpose is to keep a door open, not closed. Try installing a deadbolt for better security.
How secure can a door stopper be?
A. Under optimal circumstances, an average door stopper will confidently and capably secure a door from moving. However, adding pressure to the door or using a door stopper that isn’t the right size and construction for a specific door can easily dislodge the door stopper.
Which door stopper should I get?
Best of the best door stopper
Jamm Door Stopper
What you need to know: This door stopper wedges underneath the end of the door instead of the middle, wedging the door in both directions.
What you’ll love: The tough polymer material is incredibly durable and this door stopper comes in multiple colors.
What you should consider: The maximum door gap of 1 inch is shorter than other door stoppers.
Available on Amazon
Best bang for your buck door stopper
Wundermax Door Stopper
What you need to know: This tough rubber nonslip stopper is built to secure doors on even the smoothest surfaces.
What you’ll love: The 1.3-inch max wedge gap keeps this under-door stopper usable on almost any door.
What you should consider: This model doesn’t work as well in older buildings with larger door gaps.
Available on Amazon
Honorable mention door stopper
Tenby Easy-Step Door Stop
What you need to know: This kick-down door stopper is incredibly versatile, thanks to its simple installation.
What you’ll love: The aluminum is strong enough to withstand pressure from the heaviest of doors without bending.
What you should consider: Some users reported that the included screws aren’t long enough to properly secure the door stopper, so an additional purchase of longer screws may be necessary.
Available on Amazon
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Jordan C. Woika 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 door stopper
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[
"Jay Cohen",
"Associated Press",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus",
"De'Anthony Taylor"
] |
2021-08-20 01:47:02+00:00
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2021-08-18 01:07:54
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Oakland Athletics right-hander Chris Bassitt was carted off the field Tuesday night after he was struck on the side of the head by a line drive during the second inning of a 9-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox. With two on and no outs, Bassitt threw an 89.5 mph cut fastball that Brian Goodwin […]
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Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Chris Bassitt falls to the ground after getting hit in the head from a ball hit by Chicago White Sox’s Brian Goodwin during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Oakland Athletics right-hander Chris Bassitt was carted off the field Tuesday night after he was struck on the side of the head by a line drive during the second inning of a 9-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
With two on and no outs, Bassitt threw an 89.5 mph cut fastball that Brian Goodwin drove right back up the middle. Bassitt went down on the mound right after he was hit, holding his head, and his teammates quickly waved to the dugout for assistance.
As players on each side looked on, Bassitt was attended to by an Oakland trainer and other personnel before he was helped into the back of a cart while holding a towel to his face. A’s center fielder Starling Marte had his hands on his head as Bassitt was driven by him.
“Bass is conscious. He was the entire time,” manager Bob Melvin said. “We don’t think the eye is a problem at this point. It felt like it was below it. He’s got some cuts. They had to do some stitches. He’s in a scan and we’ll know more about potential fractures or whatever tomorrow, or later tonight.”
Melvin took no questions during his postgame Zoom session with the media, and the A’s made no players available.
The 32-year-old Bassitt, who broke into the majors with the White Sox in 2014, is in the midst of a breakout season for Oakland. He was 12-3 with a 3.06 ERA in 24 starts heading into the game, leading the AL in victories.
Burch Smith replaced Bassitt on the mound.
White Sox infielder Jake Lamb, who played with Bassitt last year in Oakland, said it was hard to concentrate after the play.
“It’s a lot more than baseball at that point,” Lamb said. “It’s a friend, it’s an old teammate. Any time you get hit in the head like that, it’s a very scary situation.”
White Sox pitcher Reynaldo López also said he was shaken by what happened.
“When you see something like that, it’s hard to digest because … as a pitcher, we know that that can happen,” he said through a translator. “It’s like, that could happen to me and it’s scary. Every time you see something like that is tough to swallow.”
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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A’s right-hander Chris Bassitt struck on head by line drive
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[
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:52:52+00:00
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2021-08-16 08:56:25
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ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Rescuers recovered more bodies Monday from the severe flooding that devastated parts of Turkey’s Black Sea coast last week, bringing the death toll to 77, officials said. Torrential rains battered the country’s northwestern Black Sea provinces on Aug. 11, causing floods that demolished homes and bridges, swept away cars and blocked […]
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A soldier walks on a temporary bridge set up by military in Bozkurt town of Kastamonu province, Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021, after flooding. Turkey sent ships to help evacuate people and vehicles from a northern town on the Black Sea that was hard hit by flooding, as the death toll in the disaster rose Sunday to at least 62 and more people than that remained missing. (AP Photo)
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Rescuers recovered more bodies Monday from the severe flooding that devastated parts of Turkey’s Black Sea coast last week, bringing the death toll to 77, officials said.
Torrential rains battered the country’s northwestern Black Sea provinces on Aug. 11, causing floods that demolished homes and bridges, swept away cars and blocked access to numerous roads.
The Turkish disaster management agency, AFAD, said at least 62 people were killed in the province of Kastamonu, 14 died in Sinop and one in Bartin.
Emergency crews on Monday pressed ahead with efforts to locate dozens of people who were still reported missing in Kastamonu and Sinop. AFAD said some 8,000 personnel, backed by 20 rescue dogs, are involved in the rescue and assistance efforts.
About 2,400 people were evacuated across the region amid the floods — scores of them lifted to safety by helicopters. Many are being temporarily housed in student dormitories.
Around 40 villages remain without power, according to AFAD.
Heavy rains along the northern coast of the Black Sea last week also forced 1,500 people to evacuate in Russia.
The heavy flooding came after Turkey endured a searing heat wave and as crews in the south were taming wildfiresthat raced across the country’s Mediterranean coast.
Climate scientists say there’s little doubt that climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is driving more extreme events— such as heat waves, droughts, wildfires, floods and storms — as the planet warms.
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This story corrects the date of the flooding to Aug. 11, not Aug. 4.
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Follow all AP stories on climate change developments at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-change
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Flooding death toll in Turkey climbs to 77; dozens missing
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[
"Andrew Dalton",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:47:50+00:00
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2021-08-17 19:51:45
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — An attorney for Trevor Bauer asked a woman Tuesday why she left out “dozens of key facts” in her petition for a five-year restraining order against the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher. “I don’t know,” answered the woman, who testified that Bauer choked her until she was unconscious and punched her repeatedly […]
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FILE – In this June 6, 2021, file photo, Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Trevor Bauer delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta. An attorney for Bauer told a judge that the Dodgers pitcher had every reason to believe that a woman wanted the rough treatment he gave her in two sexual encounters that led to her seeking a five-year restraining order against him. Lawyer Shawn Holley made the argument at a hearing Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — An attorney for Trevor Bauer asked a woman Tuesday why she left out “dozens of key facts” in her petition for a five-year restraining order against the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher.
“I don’t know,” answered the woman, who testified that Bauer choked her until she was unconscious and punched her repeatedly in two sexual encounters.
The exchange during lawyer Shawn Holley’s cross-examination of the woman came in her second day of testimony at the hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Holley challenged the 27-year-old San Diego woman on why she omitted a text message to Bauer before their meetings saying she would have her “feelings turned off” and joking that she would have a nondisclosure agreement “signed and sealed” when she came to see him.
The woman said she no longer had access to those texts.
Holley asked why she got back into bed and slept next to Bauer after the traumatic experience she testified that she had. The woman said she wanted to remember the hours of emotional connection the two had experienced beforehand.
“I didn’t want to think about what just happened,” the woman said. “I wanted to go back to the way it was before we had sex.”
The hearing is expected to continue Wednesday and Thursday, and to include testimony from Bauer, 30, who was placed on paid administrative leave on July 2 by Major League Baseball. The leave has been extended through Friday. MLB says it is conducting its own investigation and Bauer could face punishment under baseball’s domestic violence policy.
Holley said during her opening statement that the woman gave Bauer every indication she consented to the treatment she received during the nights they spent together at his home in Pasadena.
Under questioning from her own attorney, the woman testified that her horror grew as bruises emerged and her pain surged the day after the second time she saw Bauer, in May.
The 27-year-old said she sent Bauer a picture of herself after returning home to San Diego.
“I could not believe what my face looked like,” she said. “I wanted him to know what he’d done to me.”
Bauer replied in a text message, “damn girl, are you OK?”
The woman said she was just as frightened of the social consequences as the physical ones, and was at first determined to tell no one else.
“I knew how that was going to go,” she testified. “That situation paints me as the slut. I didn’t want the story to go anywhere.”
But a visit with her best friend, who was “mortified’ by how she looked, convinced her to seek medical help. She would end up in a hospital emergency room, she said, which led to visits from a social worker, her parents and Pasadena police, who are still investigating three months later.
On Tuesday, she discussed the aftermath of the second visit, in which according to her testimony Bauer had punched her in the face and vagina, and left bruises on her gums, around her eyes and behind her ears.
She said she was frightened at what Bauer might have done to her while she was unconscious. In text messages and a phone call she made to him for Pasadena police to record, he said that he only punched her in the buttocks during that time.
She described an hours-long sexual assault exam that she said was terribly traumatic and physically painful.
The nurse who conducted the examination took the stand and testified Tuesday that she had never seen the kind of bruising she documented on and around the woman’s vagina in the approximately 75 similar exams that she had done.
Nurse Kelly Valencia said, “it was frankly alarming,” but did not think it required further treatment.
The woman testified that she received daily messages from Bauer, expressing his concern.
“Here for you if you want to talk,” one read.
“I feel so bad that this happened,” another said.
He offered to send her groceries while she was recovering at home, or otherwise help.
The woman said she appreciated his acknowledgement at first.
“It felt good to hear that he felt bad,” she said.
But she found the messages increasingly disconcerting, and she worried that he knew she had talked to police.
“I felt like he was saying these things so I would shut up,” she testified.
The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they have been victims of sexual assault.
Bauer agreed to a $102 million, three-year contract to join his hometown Dodgers earlier this year after winning his first Cy Young with the Cincinnati Reds last season.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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Bauer lawyer: Lies of omission in woman’s sex assault story
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[
"Ralph D. Russo",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:59:26+00:00
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2021-08-16 16:03:31
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Another college football season will start with everyone chasing the Tide. Alabama is No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll for fourth time in the past six seasons. Coming off its sixth national championship under Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide enters the season loaded with potential replacements for the record-breakers and NFL […]
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FILE – Alabama head coach Nick Saban leaves the field after their win against Ohio State in an NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game in Miami Gardens, Fla., in this Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, file photo. Another college football season will start with everyone chasing the Tide. Alabama is No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 preseason college football poll released Monday, Aug. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Another college football season will start with everyone chasing the Tide.
Alabama is No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll for fourth time in the past six seasons.
Coming off its sixth national championship under Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide enters the season loaded with potential replacements for the record-breakers and NFL draft picks who have moved on, including Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith.
Alabama received 47 of 63 first-place votes from the panel of sports writers and broadcasters in the poll presented by Regions Bank. Oklahoma is No. 2, just ahead of No. 3 Clemson (each received six first-place votes).
Ohio State, which lost to the Tide in last season’s championship game, is No. 4 after receiving a first-place vote. Georgia received three first-place votes and rounds out the top five.
The 2020 Buckeyes were emblematic of a bizarre season played through the pandemic, suiting up for only eight games after the Big Ten didn’t kickoff until late October. The season was riddled with postponements, cancellations, and players and coaches missing games across the country because of COVID-19. There was little nonconference play and none among Power Five conference teams.
Amid all the chaos and frustration was a familiar ending: The season came to a close with Alabama on top.
Last year’s Tide staked a claim as the greatest team of the Saban dynasty. Alabama went 13-0, facing 11 Southeastern Conference teams and playoff showdowns with Notre Dame and Ohio State.
“The challenge is you’ve got to rebuild with a lot of new players who will be younger, have new roles, less experience, and how do they respond to these new roles?” Saban said. “That’s why rebuilding is a tremendous challenge. That’s why it’s very difficult to repeat.”
The most powerful offense in the country lost Smith, quarterback Mac Jones and running back Najee Harris, all first-round NFL draft picks this year. The next wave of blue-chippers stepping into bigger roles includes running back Brian Robinson, receiver John Metchie and quarterback Bryce Young, a former five-star recruit from California.
“Bryce has endless potential,” Saban said.
Since the AP started the preseason poll in 1950, only 11 teams that started No. 1 also ended the season as No. 1. Alabama was the last do it, in 2017, the middle season of three straight in which the Crimson Tide took the preseason top spot. Alabama finished second in 2016 and ’18.
No program faces higher expectations than Alabama going into any season: The Crimson Tide is the only team in the country to start each of the last 13 seasons ranked in the top five.
And no program has been better at meeting those expectations: Along with the six national titles, the Tide has three more top-four finishes over the previous 12 years and has never ended a season ranked lower than 10th.
POLL POINTS
— Alabama is now tied with Ohio State for the second-most preseason No. 1 rankings with eight. Oklahoma has the most with 10.
— Only two teams have gone wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team in the country during a season. Southern California was the last in 2004, with Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart. The first was undefeated Florida State in 1999, possibly the best team of the Bobby Bowden era. Bowden died earlier this month at 91.
— No. 8 Cincinnati of the American Athletic Conference is the first team from outside the Power Five leagues to be ranked in the preseason top 10 since Louisville started ninth in 2012. That was the Cardinals’ final season as a member of the AAC before joining the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The defending AAC champion Bearcats have the best preseason ranking for a non-Power Five or BCS conference team since Boise State was No. 5 to begin 2011. The Broncos out of the Mountain West finished that season No. 8.
RARITIES AND FIRSTS
— Sun Belt rivals No. 22 Coastal Carolina and No. 23 Louisiana-Lafayette are ranked in the preseason poll for the first time. It’s the first time the conference has had any teams ranked in the preseason.
— No. 7 Iowa State is ranked in the preseason for the third straight season after having only one previous appearance in the preseason poll (1978). The Cyclones had never been ranked better than 20th to begin a season. They also have never been ranked higher at any point than the No. 8 they reached last year on the way to finishing ninth.
— No. 10 North Carolina has its best preseason ranking since being No. 7 in 1997 during coach Mack Brown’s first stint with the Tar Heels.
— No. 17 Indiana is ranked in the preseason poll for the first time since 1968. The Hoosiers finished last season at No. 12, the second-best final ranking in program history. Indiana has never started and finished a season ranked.
CONFERENCE CALL
No. 6 Texas A&M starts with its best preseason ranking since 1995 when the Aggies were No. 3. Coach Jimbo Fisher’s team also gives the SEC three teams in the top six, joining Alabama and Georgia.
Breakdown by conference:
SEC — 5 (Nos. 1, 5, 6, 13, 16).
Big Ten — 5 (Nos. 4, 12, 17, 18, 19).
Pac-12 — 5 (Nos. 11, 15, 20, 24, 25).
ACC — 3 (Nos. 3, 10, 14).
Big 12 — 3 (No. 2, 7, 21).
Sun Belt — 2 (Nos. 22, 23).
American — 1 (No. 8) .
Independent — 1 (No. 9).
—-
Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at https://APpodcasts.com
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
___
More on Regions Bank: www.regions.com
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Chasing Tide: Alabama is No. 1 in preseason AP Top 25 again
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[
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:53:19+00:00
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2021-08-16 07:06:47
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JERUSALEM (AP) — Air raid sirens sounded in southern Israel on Monday after a rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip, the first since the 11-day war between Israel and Palestinian militants in May. The Israeli military said in a statement that it identified one rocket launch that was intercepted by aerial defense batteries. Amateur […]
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JERUSALEM (AP) —
Air raid sirens sounded in southern Israel on Monday after a rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip, the first since the 11-day war between Israel and Palestinian militants in May.
The Israeli military said in a statement that it identified one rocket launch that was intercepted by aerial defense batteries.
Amateur video footage appeared to show the rocket being intercepted over the southern town of Sderot.
The rocket fire could jeopardize three months of relative calm since Israel and the militant group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip struck a ceasefire.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the rocket fire. It came hours after Israeli troops clashed with Palestinian gunmen during a late-night arrest raid in the occupied West Bank, killing four Palestinians in one of the deadliest battles in the area in years.
The fighting erupted in Jenin, a city in the northern West Bank where tensions have been high since a man was killed in fighting with Israel earlier this month.
Israel’s paramilitary border police said its forces were attempting to arrest a suspect when they “came under heavy fire from close range” by a number of gunmen. It said Israeli forces returned fire, and none of its officers were injured.
The official Palestinian news agency, WAFA, said four men were killed by Israeli fire and a fifth was seriously wounded.
Amateur footage from the scene appeared to show an intense exchange of gunfire in the streets of Jenin.
Senior Palestinian official Hussein Al Sheikh accused Israel of “a heinous crime” and tweeted that “the international community should be ashamed of its silence about this and its failure to provide protection to the Palestinian people from this oppression.”
During the second Palestinian uprising in the early 2000s, Jenin experienced some of the heaviest fighting with Israel, though the area has generally been quiet in recent years. According to the Israeli military, there have been at least eight clashes between troops and Palestinian gunmen over the past two months.
The West Bank has experienced an uptick in deadly violence in recent months, with over two dozen Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in recent weeks, including children and Palestinian protesters. Israel’s war in May in the Gaza Strip, driven by friction in at a contest Jerusalem holy site and attempts by a settler group to evict Palestinians in east Jerusalem, and the recent establishment of a West Bank settlement outpost have contributed to the tensions.
Last week, Israel’s military chief urged troops to follow professional regulations and “act with discretion” in light of the complexity of the situation.
Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war and in the decades since has established dozens of settlements where nearly 500,000 settlers reside. The Palestinians seek the West Bank as part of their future state and view the settlements as a major obstacle to resolving the conflict.
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Air raid sirens sound in Israel after rocket fired from Gaza
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[
"Elliott Rivette",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:57:29+00:00
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2021-08-16 16:10:09
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Our team of experts has selected the best walkie-talkie out of hundreds of models. Don't buy a walkie-talkie before reading these reviews.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arklatexhomepage.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Felectronics-br%2Faudio-video-accessories-br%2Fthe-best-walkie-talkie%2F.json
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Some walkie-talkies are capable of using both FRS and GMRS channels. If you choose to legally use the GMRS channels on such a device, you will need a license.
Which walkie-talkie is best?
Walkie-talkies have been around for almost 100 years, which has provided plenty of time for improvement. If you’re looking for walkie-talkies, don’t compromise when you can get some high-quality two-way radio equipment.
Motorola T600 Talkabout Radios offer a simple but effective design that’s completely waterproof, has an emergency light and is excellent for outdoor activities.
What to know before you buy a walkie-talkie
How many walkie-talkies do you need?
If you’re purchasing two-way radio devices for a group, consider how many individual units you need to equip everyone. Many walkie-talkies are sold in pairs or large quantities. Depending on the number of users you have in mind, remember that the more separate radios you need, the more it’ll cost.
Where you’ll be taking your walkie-talkies
If you plan to take your walkie-talkies outdoors, plan ahead for the kinds of environments and weather you think you might encounter. If you could be exposed to rain or severe weather conditions, be sure your walkie-talkies can hold up under the stress.
Additional functions
Some walkie-talkies come equipped with other functionality or features, like flashlights, weather indicators and headphone output jacks. If you need your walkie-talkies to serve multiple purposes or just like having bonus features, consider spending a bit more to equip yourself with the best gear.
What to look for in a quality walkie-talkie
Range
The best walkie-talkies have plenty of range to communicate with your fellow users — you don’t want a radio that can’t signal far enough to reach the message’s intended target. Depending on the intended activities for the walkie-talkies, you don’t necessarily have to have the longest possible range, but check the maximum distances and try to test ahead of time before you take the walkie-talkies into the field.
Reliable signal
Some walkie-talkies use a frequency of about 136-174 MHz (VHF), while others use a much higher frequency of 400-512 MHz (UHF). The tradeoff with UHF or ultra high-frequency walkie-talkies is that their signal can pass through obstructions like buildings and densely wooded areas, but they require more power. Basically, a lower-frequency walkie-talkie doesn’t need as much energy to transmit signals, but it’s easily obstructed by anything between the transmitter and the intended recipient of a message. If you could encounter potential signal obstructions, you might need a higher-frequency walkie-talkie.
Durable design
Depending on how often you use the walkie-talkies and the kinds of activities you use them for, you may not need a particularly heavy-duty or durable model. If you may encounter bumps or falls during your activities, your walkie-talkie should be able to withstand a reasonable amount of abuse without being damaged.
How much you can expect to spend on a walkie-talkie
You can easily find a cheap pair of walkie-talkies for recreational communication at less than $20. For higher-quality two-way radios, you can expect to spend up to $100, depending on how durable or long-range you need them to be. For large quantities of walkie-talkies, expect to spend over $100.
Walkie-talkie FAQ
Do I need a license to use a walkie-talkie?
A. It depends. Many two-way radios available have pre-programmed channels that don’t necessitate a license to operate. Some types of radios require a license which comes at a fee. Personal licensing costs less than licensing for an organization or company. Check the laws that apply and obtain any necessary license before making radio broadcasts.
Can walkie-talkies be completely waterproof, or are they only water-resistant?
A. They can be totally waterproof, depending on the model. Some walkie-talkies are safe to completely submerge in water up to certain depths and should not lose any functionality. If you need a walkie-talkie that can stand up to very wet and harsh conditions, there are plenty of options. Remember that waterproof walkie-talkies will likely be more expensive.
What’s the best walkie-talkie to buy?
Top walkie-talkies
Motorola T600 Talkabout
What you need to know: This pair of waterproof walkie-talkies is designed to float and survive being submerged in water for a surprising amount of time.
What you’ll love: These walkie-talkies are great for water sports because they can withstand being up to a meter underwater for up to 30 minutes. They have a two-colored LED emergency flashlight that can be used as a normal flashlight and functions as a water-activated emergency light. This model can access 22 frequency bands and 11 different emergency weather channels. It has up to 9 hours of battery life. The bright color makes it hard to lose.
What you should consider: Some customers find the batteries drain quickly, and others find that their walkie-talkies’ speaker volume is lower than preferred.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top walkie-talkies for the money
Midland GXT1000VP4 GMRS Two-Way Radio
What you need to know: This affordable but high-quality pair of walkie-talkies features splash resistance and privacy codes.
What you’ll love: This model has 142 CTCSS/DCS privacy codes that allow for 3,124 channel options to block out other conversations. The built-in NOAA Weather Scan + Alert automatically scans 10 weather band channels and determines the strongest weather channel for alerting the user of any severe weather updates. In the case of severe risk, the walkie-talkie sounds an alarm. The battery lasts over 10 hours.
What you should consider: The radios may fail after a few months of consistent use. These models don’t have a group-mode feature. The range is less than 36 miles and encounters difficulties if there are lots of hills or buildings to obstruct the signal.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Retevis H-777 Two-Way Radios (10-Pack)
What you need to know: This set of walkie-talkies is great for a large group, though each individual radio is not very durable.
What you’ll love: These two-way radios provide clear reception and are even compatible with other models from the same manufacturer. The battery provides 10-12 hours of use or longer. They’re designed to last, but an individual unit is easy to replace if one sustains damage. Customer service is very responsive.
What you should consider: The antenna housing may break or fall apart after several months. The battery housing components and belt clips seem to loosen up over time. There have also been reports that radios may fail after months of use.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Elliott Rivette 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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The best walkie-talkie
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[
"Haleluya Hadero",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:51:45+00:00
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2021-08-16 15:56:04
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Edgar Villanueva is on a mission to change philanthropy. Villanueva, a 44-year-old racial justice activist, became a household name in the donor world in 2018. He said he was moved by the attention gained by his book, which argues that institutionalized philanthropy in America perpetuates practices that marginalize minority communities. He says he reached that […]
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Edgar Villanueva is on a mission to change philanthropy.
Villanueva, a 44-year-old racial justice activist, became a household name in the donor world in 2018. He said he was moved by the attention gained by his book, which argues that institutionalized philanthropy in America perpetuates practices that marginalize minority communities.
He says he reached that conclusion after many years of working in philanthropies from Washington state to North Carolina, where he is an enrolled member of the Native American Lumbee tribe. In recent years, he has pushed for philanthropies to incorporate more diversity and inclusion on the inside and invest more into minority communities on the outside.
To that end, Villanueva launched the nonprofit Decolonizing Wealth Project in 2018. The group runs a fund supporting minority-led initiatives for social justice causes and has received contributions from billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
The second edition of Villanueva’s book, “Decolonizing Wealth: Indigenous Wisdom to Heal Divides and Restore Balance,” was released last week. The Associated Press spoke recently with him about his calls for change and other things. The interview was edited for clarity and length.
___
Q: You’ve argued that institutionalized philanthropy is infected with a “colonizing virus.” What do you mean?
A: The philanthropic industry as it exists currently, with $1 trillion in assets, came about through a history of inequality. There have been accumulated advantages and benefits for people with wealth, and specifically for white people in the U.S., to be in the position of being able to generate and build wealth in the first place. So folks who had those generational resources passed it down, and those with accumulated benefits have been in the best positions to start foundations and to actually be able to be charitable in a very traditional sense.
We have to bring that history into context as we’re thinking about the gifts — who’s receiving money, who makes decisions about money and who benefits from this entire industry.
Colonization was all about extracting resources and hoarding resources… So I talk about this colonizing virus because it is like a virus that has really infected all of our systems but especially the systems connected to money.
___
Q: And how can the sector combat such a virus?
A: The way out of this is to think about healing. If trauma is the result of how wealth has been accumulated, I believe that we can flip that and use money and wealth differently, specifically philanthropic capital, which should be deployed to really benefit all people. If we’re investing in communities of color and actually prioritizing Black and Indigenous communities that have historically been marginalized, then I believe that we can help close the race wealth gap that exists, in essence using money as a form of medicine.
___
Q: Charitable foundations are criticized for investing their endowments in companies that don’t align with their missions. Some announced plans to change their strategies. Do you see that happening at a mass scale?
A: I’m hopeful. Probably prior to five years ago, there was very little talk about endowments. I think more and more as we’re talking about effective and modern philanthropy, we are looking at the entire picture of all the resources that are available to foundations. And there’s a major push to align the grant-making practices and the business practices with the investment practices. What is the net value of philanthropy if with our right hand we’re doing some good and with our left hand we’re actually doing harm? It really makes no sense for a foundation to invest in grant making around criminal justice but invest their endowments in private prisons. Return on investment is not always something that can be quantified by a dollar sign.
___
Q: Philanthropic funding for racial equity initiatives increased following the police killing of George Floyd. Will that be sustained?
A: I think we’re having a breakthrough moment. I feel optimistic about it. A lot of things have been shifting in the past three years, thanks to the work of social movements like the Movement for Black Lives. There’s been a lot of external pressure on foundations, on corporations to invest more in social justice and just in communities of color in general.
At the Decolonizing Wealth Project, we’ve really been fueling this reckoning that’s been happening across the sector for the last number of years. So the conversations, even before the murder of George Floyd, have begun to shift. I think that moment absolutely opened a new level of opportunity for resources to flow.
One of the challenges that we have in philanthropy is sometimes moving money in ways that connect to a news cycle or some type of sparkplug event that happens in communities. It’s human nature to want to respond in the moment, but what we have to continue to push for is to center and prioritize Black, Indigenous and other communities of color in our grantmaking.
___
Q: You’ve spoken about the need to extend grace to Americans learning about racial inequities. Do you believe there is a lack of grace in today’s social justice movements?
A: I do, I do. But I think it’s been really hard to extend grace in a moment where we are directly in the line of attack. So I do believe there’s a time to fight and a time to really defend our positions and to maybe not compromise or find that middle ground. But I think all of us can, and should, find ways to work towards extending grace to others.
In my own journey, I know that I was raised to be racist. I was raised to be sexist, homophobic, and through a lot of reading work on my own, but also the support of community around me, I’ve evolved over the last couple of decades to be someone who thinks and shows up very differently.
But had I not had that opportunity to find community, to teach me, I don’t know that I would have gotten there on my own. And so we are living in a time of cancel culture. We’re living in a time of identity politics. And it is actually just really challenging after this last political administration and all the things we saw — policies, the attacks on our communities — to extend grace in those moments. So it is a process of healing that we all have to engage in. I try my best to extend that to others, because that’s how I’ve been received through the years.
____
The Associated Press receives support from the Lilly Endowment for coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.
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Q&A: Author calls for donors to ‘decolonize’ their wealth
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https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/news/business/qa-author-calls-for-donors-to-decolonize-their-wealth/
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[
"Brett Dvoretz",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:57:07+00:00
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2021-08-16 12:56:35
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Our team of experts has selected the best acne patch out of hundreds of options. Don't buy an acne patch before reading these reviews.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arklatexhomepage.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Fbeauty-personal-care-br%2Fskin-treatments-br%2Fbest-acne-patch%2F.json
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If you need to wear your acne patches when in public and are self-conscious about it, you can cover them up with a thick concealer. This way, they will be practically unnoticeable.
Which acne patch is best?
Despite what many think, acne doesn’t only happen to teenagers. If you have just woken up and noticed a pimple, or you simply want to make sure you have the necessary supplies on hand to treat the inevitable future breakout, acne patches are the answer. These hydrocolloid bandages help keep the area sterile while drawing out pus and other fluids so that your blemish heals quicker.
Like the Hero Cosmetics The Original Mighty Patch, many options use limited ingredients, so there is no potential for irritation. Despite that, these are still very effective at combating whiteheads and other surface-level pimples.
What to know before you buy an acne patch
Types of acne
Before choosing an acne patch, it is essential to determine what type of acne you have. Certain kinds of patches work better on specific types of acne. Some forms of acne won’t respond to patches at all.
Blackheads fall into the category of acne that generally doesn’t respond to treatment from patches. These occur when excess oil, dirt and bacteria get trapped inside the pore, but the pore stays open. Eventually, exposure to air causes the buildup to turn an unsightly black. Patches generally can’t help with blackheads because an underlying infection doesn’t typically accompany them.
Whiteheads, on the other hand, do respond well to patches. These also occur when dirt and bacteria get trapped in the pore, but unlike with blackheads on which the pores stay open, the pore is closed on a whitehead, resulting in pus building up inside it.
Papules are small red bumps of inflamed skin that form when a pore is blocked by oil and bacteria. However, they don’t build up with pus-like whiteheads. These also usually respond well to acne patches.
Pustules are similar to papules in that they are small red bumps on inflamed skin, but these have a white center filled with pus. These often, but not always, form in clusters and can be treated with acne patches.
Cystic acne is the most severe type of acne. It is an infection that occurs deep beneath the skin that presents as large, inflamed bumps filled with pus and often painful. Though difficult to treat, it does respond to some types of acne patches.
Nodular acne is often confused with cystic acne because it presents similarly and is also an infection deep below the skin. You can tell the difference between these two because nodular acne is hard to the touch, whereas cystic acne is softer since it is filled with pus. Like cystic acne, nodular acne only responds to certain kinds of patches.
How acne patches work
Acne patches are available in three types: medicated, non-medicated and micro-needling. Each of these works in a different manner.
Medicated acne patches contain topical aids like salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, benzoyl peroxide, tea tree oil and niacinamide that reduce inflammation, fight infection and help a blemish heal quicker. They are effective on whiteheads, papules and pustules. They can also help with mild cystic or nodular acne, which will be ineffective against more severe cases.
Non-medicated acne patches are basic hydrocolloid bandages that help with wound healing by drawing out pus and oil. They also keep the area sterile and prevent you from picking at your acne, hindering the healing process. These are best for surface-level acne, like whiteheads, papules and pustules.
Micro-needling acne patches contain very fine, dissolving needles on the hydrocolloid bandage that penetrate the upper layers of skin to deliver the topicals deeply. These are the best types of patches if trying to treat cystic or nodular acne.
Features to look for in a quality acne patch
Ingredients
Acne patches use various ingredients that can help heal wounds and blemishes in different ways. Some common beneficial ingredients include tea tree oil, white willow bark extract, calendula oil, salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and benzoyl peroxide.
Quantity
Acne patches come in packages with as few as 10 patches or as many as 200. Those who don’t get breakouts may only need to keep 10 or 20 patches in their home. However, those who have to deal with regular breakouts should purchase a larger package because they often have a lower per-patch cost.
Size
Since not all blemishes are the same size, most companies sell more than one size of the patch. Variety packages come with patches in two or three sizes. Generally speaking, if you only need to treat whiteheads, pustules and papules, small patches should suffice. If you are combating cystic or nodular acne, larger patches are often necessary.
Appearance
The majority of acne patches are as inconspicuous as possible. To that end, they are usually clear or available in colors that will match specific skin tones. That said, there are also some colorful options and whimsical designs available if you prefer.
How much you can expect to spend on an acne patch
Standard non-medicated acne patches cost between 5-35 cents per patch. For medicated patches, expect to spend anywhere from 10 cents to $1.20 per patch, depending on the ingredients and the size of the patch. Micro-needling patches are the most expensive and often cost 50 cents to $3 per patch.
Acne patch FAQ
How long am I supposed to wear an acne patch?
A. Most experts recommend wearing an acne patch for at least six hours for optimal effectiveness. On particularly troublesome pimples, you may want to leave the patch on for as long as 10 or 12 hours. After that point, they begin to lose effectiveness, and it is best to replace them with a new patch.
Can an acne patch damage my skin?
A. As long as they are used as directed, acne patches will not damage the skin. However, if you have to use them repeatedly in the same spot, they can cause dryness, so you may want to consider using an oil-free moisturizer between applications.
What is the best acne patch to buy?
Top acne patch
Hero Cosmetics The Original Mighty Patch
What you need to know: These powerful patches are lauded for their fast results.
What you’ll love: They stick to the skin well and turn white to let you know when it’s time to remove them.
What you should consider: They won’t work for deep forms of acne like cystic and nodular.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and iHerb
Top acne patch for the money
Avarelle Acne Cover Patch
What you need to know: This medicated option comes with a blend of patch sizes to treat small and large pimples alike.
What you’ll love: The patches are clear to blend in seamlessly with your skin, and they are Leaping Bunny certified as a cruelty-free product.
What you should consider: Some of the ingredients may irritate those with sensitive skin.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and iHerb
Worth checking out
Rael Microcrystal Acne Healing Patch
What you need to know: Designed to deliver medication deep into the skin, these patches can help those dealing with cystic and nodular acne.
What you’ll love: They work well on early-stage acne, so you can stop pimples in their tracks before they ever come to a head.
What you should consider: They are more expensive than many other patches.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Brett Dvoretz 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.arklatexhomepage.com
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Best acne patch
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https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/skin-treatments-br/best-acne-patch/
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[
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:52:31+00:00
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2021-08-16 05:46:58
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QUINCY, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters battling flames in Northern California forests girded Monday for new bouts of windy weather, and a utility warned thousands of customers it might cut their electricity to prevent new fires from igniting if gusts damage power lines. Conditions that suppressed the huge Dixie Fire overnight were expected to give way […]
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A surviving ceramic statue is seen outside a house that burned along North Arm Road in Plumas County near Taylorsville, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. Thousands of Northern California homes remain threatened by the nation’s largest wildfire and officials warn the danger of new blazes erupting across the West is high because of unstable weather. (AP Photo/Eugene Garcia)
QUINCY, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters battling flames in Northern California forests girded Monday for new bouts of windy weather, and a utility warned thousands of customers it might cut their electricity to prevent new fires from igniting if gusts damage power lines.
Conditions that suppressed the huge Dixie Fire overnight were expected to give way late in the day to winds that could push flames toward mountain communities in a region where drought and summer heat have turned vegetation to tinder.
“In this environment any type of wind, no matter what direction — especially the way the fire’s been going — is a concern for everyone,” said information officer Jim Evans.
Growing explosively at times, the Dixie Fire has scorched 890 square miles (2,305 square kilometers) in the northern Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades since it ignited on July 13 and eventually merged with a smaller blaze called the Fly Fire.
Ongoing damage surveys have counted more than 1,100 buildings destroyed, including 625 homes, and more than 14,000 structures remained threatened. Numerous evacuation orders were in effect.
Investigations are continuing, but Pacific Gas & Electric has notified utility regulators that the Dixie and Fly fires may have been caused by trees falling into its power lines. The Dixie Fire began near the town of Paradise, which was devastated by a 2018 wildfire ignited by PG&E equipment during strong winds. Eighty-five people died.
On Sunday evening, PG&E notified 39,000 customers in parts of 16 Northern California counties that it may have to shut off power Tuesday evening due to a forecast of dry winds out of the northeast.
“Given this wind event and current conditions including extreme to exceptional drought and extremely dry vegetation, PG&E has begun sending 48-hour advance notifications to customers in targeted areas where PG&E may need to proactively turn power off for safety to reduce the risk of wildfire from energized power lines,” a statement said.
The Dixie Fire was among 97 large, active wildfires burning in the United States on Monday, the National Interagency Fire Center said. More than 25,000 firefighters, support personnel and management teams were assigned to the blazes.
The U.S. Forest Service said last week that it is operating in crisis mode, with more than double the number of firefighters deployed than at the same time a year ago.
The fires were also taking a toll on wildlife.
Near Taylorsville, California, some firefighters on Sunday were monitoring a bear cub who was possibly orphaned in the Dixie Fire. The emaciated cub was awaiting extraction from the fire-scarred area by a wildlife rescue team.
“Generally if you see them with a sow or a mother bear, they’ll stay with the mother bear and run off,” said firefighter Johnnie Macy, who was deployed from Golden, Colorado. “This bear hasn’t done that, so because of that we think that the bear’s orphaned as a result of the fire.”
Climate change has made the U.S. West warmer and drier in the past 30 years and will continue to make the weather more extreme and wildfires more destructive, according to scientists.
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www.arklatexhomepage.com
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Wind forecasts bring new worries to California fire lines
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https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/news/u-s-world/california-fire-threatens-homes-as-blazes-burn-across-west/
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[
"Elliott Rivette",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:58:38+00:00
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2021-08-16 16:08:53
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Our team of experts has selected the best 3D pen out of hundreds of options. Don't buy a 3D pen before reading these reviews.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arklatexhomepage.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Flawn-garden-br%2Ftools-br-lawn-garden-br%2Farts-crafts-br%2Fthe-best-3d-pen-2%2F.json
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en
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You can print out designs or draw your own to guide your 3D pen work. Working up from a template ensures that the pieces of plastic measure to the exact scale or shape you need.
Which 3D pen is best?
An affordable and fun way to get started with 3D printing projects is a 3D pen that heats plastic filament and lets users draw 3D objects into existence. It provides a unique STEM learning opportunity for children and can be a valuable tool for adult artists or anyone interested in crafting plastic components in their own homes.
The MYNT3D Professional 3D Printing Pen is suitable for all user skill levels and performs professional-level quality, with plenty of options to manually adjust the settings to adapt to your needs.
What to know before you buy a 3D pen
Wired vs. wireless
Some 3D pens plug into an outlet and stay connected to their power source, while others are wireless and need to recharge after a certain amount of time. The benefit of wireless is that you do not need to be near an outlet to use the pen, but it could potentially die while using it. The main drawback of a wired pen is that sometimes a wire could get in the way, depending on what you are creating.
Crafts
Be sure that a 3D pen is suitable for the type of job you have in mind. There are 3D printers suited to large components and precise measurement, while you can primarily use 3D pens for artwork or detailed 3D sketching. Trying to craft something precisely to fit particular measurements with a 3D pen is difficult, so make sure that you understand what you need to use your 3D pen effectively.
Age
If you plan to have children using the pen for experimenting, learning and creating art projects, it may be essential to find a pen suitable for younger users. There are 3D pens available that are extra safe and plastic filaments that are non-toxic and harmless. Choosing the safer products available might be perfect for a family looking for 3D pen equipment.
What to look for in a quality 3D pen
Adjustable temperatures
Some pens are capable of working with more than just one type of filament. High-quality 3D pens have temperatures that you can specifically change or adjust to the current needs. Different types of plastic filaments have different melting points, so try to find a pen that lets you manually change its heating temperature.
Adjustable speed
3D pen users will find that it is vital to control the speed of filament feeding manually. By directly adjusting the speed, it can be easier to work slowly on a detailed portion of a project and prevent the pen from clogging or inadvertently messing up what you are creating. The best models make the speed easy to adjust and control directly.
Safety
A good pen cools off quickly and does not easily overheat during regular use. High-quality pens do not have heating components easily accessible to prevent users from accidentally touching metal that could burn the skin. It is also best for the pen to be able to disassemble for cleaning and maintenance. Keeping your nozzle and internal parts clear of debris will not only let the pen last longer and prevent damage, but it can also help it not to become clogged or overheat.
How much you can expect to spend on a 3D pen
Cheap 3D pens that do not hold up to long-term use can be obtained for about $20-$40 and provide an affordable learning experience for anyone new to 3D pens. For a decent long-lasting or high-end pen, expect to pay anywhere from $40-$100 or more.
3D pen FAQ
Are 3D pens safe to use?
A. Most 3D pens have hot parts that are not safe to touch, but the pen should not pose any danger if appropriately used. Using filaments that melt at lower temperatures can also be safer if potential burns are a concern. As long as you use plastics that do not produce fumes, it should also be safe to print with plastic without the need for special protection. PLA filament is an excellent, completely safe filament for beginners to use.
What plastic filaments can a 3D pen use?
A. It depends on the specific model, so check what kinds of plastic your 3D pen can safely print and fit. Many 3D pens can print with PLA and ABS, the two most common types used for this type of 3D printing. ABS is cheap but gives off fumes that can make people feel sick and needs to be safely used only in ventilated areas. PLA is more expensive, but it is biodegradable and has a lower melting point. Note that PLA takes a bit longer to cool off than ABS.
What’s the best 3D pen to buy?
Top 3D pen
MYNT3D Professional 3D Printing Pen
What you need to know: This 3D pen is great for working on professional-quality projects, but people of all experience levels can also enjoy it.
What you’ll love: The print speed and temperature of the pen can be easily adjusted. User information is clearly displayed on the pen’s OLED display to see the current settings easily. The kit also includes some ABS plastic filament for users to get started right away.
What you should consider: The power cord on its own is a little short, and the pen can be slow to get heated up to desired levels.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top 3D pen for the money
3Doodler 3D Pen Start Essentials Set for Kids
What you need to know: This extensive 3D pen starter kit is great for kids to learn about using a 3D pen safely and has everything you need to get started out of the box.
What you’ll love: The pen is specially designed with no hot components so you can use it without any risk of children burning themselves. Each kit includes the pen itself, packs of starter plastic, templates and a DoodlePad.
What you should consider: You will need to be sure it has time to charge with the included Micro-USB charger. Some users have had trouble understanding the instructions, so they may not be as clear as they should be.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
3Doodler Create+ 3D Printing Pen (2020 Model)
What you need to know: This updated version of an older pen model gives users a very smooth experience.
What you’ll love: The pen offers control over the speed that helps in creating detailed pieces. It is the first 3D printing pen to use dual drive technology that improves the power and durability of the device. It is perfect for using non-toxic filaments like PLA, ABS and flexy plastic materials. The kit also includes a variety of plastic filament colors.
What you should consider: Using some third-party filaments has caused occasional jams.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Elliott Rivette 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.arklatexhomepage.com
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The best 3D pen
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https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/tools-br-lawn-garden-br/arts-crafts-br/the-best-3d-pen-2/
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[
"Bharatha Mallawarachi",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:50:43+00:00
|
2021-08-17 02:46:00
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COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Manjula Wijesuriya had COVID-19, but his friends and family say that’s not what killed him. When the 51-year-old tutor suffered a heart attack in late July, his loved ones rushed him to a nearby hospital in a suburb of Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo. But as his condition deteriorated over the […]
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en
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Sri Lankan health workers carry the dead body of a person to test for COVID-19 before handing over them to families in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. The Indian Ocean island nation is facing its most severe spike of the pandemic, driven by the highly contagious delta variant. Doctors and medical associations now warn that ICU beds for virus patients and morgues are rapidly nearing maximum capacity. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Manjula Wijesuriya had COVID-19, but his friends and family say that’s not what killed him.
When the 51-year-old tutor suffered a heart attack in late July, his loved ones rushed him to a nearby hospital in a suburb of Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo. But as his condition deteriorated over the next few hours, they found it impossible to get him a bed in an intensive care unit.
That’s because a test confirmed Wijesuriya also had the coronavirus, and virus patients must be admitted to separate ICUs. All of them were occupied. The father to three died on Aug. 1 — a day after stepping foot inside the hospital.
“It was a tragic death,” said his friend Tissa Jananayake. “Even though he had COVID, he did not die because of it. He died because he did not receive treatment for the heart attack; he died because he could not get an ICU bed.”
Wijesuriya’s death is a worrying sign of how the latest coronavirus surge, driven by the highly contagious delta variant, is swamping the Indian Ocean island nation.
“The delta variant is like a bomb,” said Channa Jayasmana, state minister of pharmaceutical production, supply and regulation. “It exploded in … London and India. Now it has exploded in Sri Lanka,” he added.
In the last two weeks, Sri Lanka has seen an unprecedented rise in coronavirus patients and deaths. The country’s latest wave of infections, which began in April, has been the most severe of the pandemic. Around 80% of the country’s total deaths occurred during this current wave, which also accounts for the majority of confirmed cases since the pandemic began.
While the Health Ministry doesn’t release data on how many COVID-19 beds are occupied, doctors and medical associations warn that ICU beds for coronavirus patients and morgues across Sri Lanka are rapidly nearing maximum capacity.
In recent weeks, television channels and social media have been inundated with dramatic visuals of overrun and overburdened government hospitals, with patients forced to sleep on floors while waiting for treatment.
Daily confirmed cases have doubled to 3,000, while deaths have shot past 100 a day. Sri Lanka has confirmed over 358,000 cases since the pandemic began and more than 6,000 deaths.
Doctors and health officials say the delta variant has swept across the country with dizzying speed, and is quickly moving from cities and into the suburbs. The government has appealed to the public to stay at home except in an emergency.
The rise in infections has pushed oxygen demand to “unacceptably high levels” that are increasing by the day, said Dr. Padma Gunaratne, president of the Sri Lanka Medical Association.
The latest barrage of cases comes as restrictions were slowly being eased following a monthlong lockdown in May and June.
New restrictions have followed. A ban on all public gatherings began on Sunday while weddings receptions will be banned from Tuesday. And a nighttime curfew began Monday that exempts only essential services.
The Health Ministry is also adding more hospital beds. Last week, the World Health Organization said it provided emergency medical equipment to 78 hospitals in Sri Lanka, including beds, oximeters, oxygen cylinders and concentrators.
President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa also changed his health minister on Monday. Keheliya Rambukwella, the media minister and government spokesman, takes over the Health Ministry, while predecessor Pavithra Wanniarachchi was appointed as transport minister.
Starting Sept. 15, no one will be allowed to enter public places without a vaccination card. But the government has held off on imposing a new lockdown, fearing the damage to the already ailing economy.
Instead, Sri Lanka’s leaders are banking on the vaccination drive to see them through the surge. It used more than 1 million AstraZeneca shots to begin its vaccination drive before supplies from neighboring India dried up. Sri Lanka then looked to China, whose Sinopharm vaccine has been the most widely used in the drive so far. Sri Lanka has also received doses from Japan, Russia, the U.S. and through the U.N.-backed COVAX program.
Officials are confident they will receive enough doses to fully immunize 70% or 15 million people out of the 22 million population by the end of September. So far, 4 million have received both doses while 11.6 million got the first shot.
But “this is not enough to stop the current wave or the large number of deaths,” said Dr. Ravi Rannan-Eliya, executive director of the Institute for Health Policy — especially since Sinopharm and other vaccines are not fully effective in blocking the delta variant’s transmission.
Authorities will need to test more rapidly and make plans to vaccinate the remaining 30% of the population, who are mostly children, he added. “This target of inoculating 70% of the population that they (the government) are chasing is no longer enough.”
Experts say the next few weeks are of immediate concern, with cases likely to escalate quickly, especially with no lockdown in place. “We need to pay attention, we need to do something,” said Gunaratne of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. “We are at a very critical point.”
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Sri Lanka banks on vaccination to see it through delta surge
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[
"Jordan C. Woika",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:46:35+00:00
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2021-08-17 14:07:00
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Robot dog toys can keep the elderly company, help a child get ready for a new puppy or entertain small children.
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Robot dog toys always come with a recommended age range and it’s wise to adhere to that. Younger kids may become easily frustrated with a overly complicated dog, while a simple toy may bore older kids.
Which robot dog is best?
Robot dog toys have a great variety of possible uses. They can keep the elderly company, help a child get ready for a new puppy, or entertain small children. As many uses as there are for robot dog toys, there is an even wider range of models of robot dog toys available.
The best dog toy for almost any need is the Joy for All Companion Pet Golden Pup. While this robot dog toy is on the pricier side, its range of features and beautiful, realistic design are top notch.
What to consider before you buy a robot dog
Age group
Robot dog toys are generally designed for three different age groups: preschoolers, school-age children and the elderly.
Preschoolers: Robot dog toys for preschoolers are designed to be simple. They are often operated by remote control and typically have little to no features other than their resemblance to living dogs.
School-age children: Robot dog toys meant for school-aged children are more complex. They are often capable of being trained by responding to voice-commands.
Elderly: A robot dog for the elderly is less of a toy and more of a companion. These robot dogs are the most realistic and respond to various stimuli, in addition to voice. Some even have “heartbeats.”
Interactivity level
Robot dog toys have a wide range of interactivity. Advanced models can respond to voice and touch, learn commands and even track movement with various sensors. The lowest interactivity level for robot dog toys effectively makes them remote control dog-shaped cars.
Trainability
Some robot dog toys are trainable and can make effective substitutions for living dogs or can even help prepare a child to take care of a living dog. For these situations, find a more advanced model that can learn commands.
Robot dog features
Realism
Robot dog toys are usually either highly realistic or designed in a mechanical, futuristic way.
Sensors
Robot dog toys can have a variety of sensors. Some can respond to touch and to voice, while others can track movement or even move about your home without crashing into obstacles.
Durability
Typically, the more expensive the robot dog toy, the longer it lasts. There are some models specifically built for either very hard or very gentle use.
Controls
Some robot dog toys are only controllable by remote, while others can only respond to voice, touch or other stimuli based on their sensors.
Robot dog cost
The cost of robot dog toys falls within a large range. The most basic, remote-controlled dog-shaped dog toys can cost as little as under $20, but as the need for more features and more advanced realism grows, so does the cost. The highest-end robot dog toy can cost $200.
Robot dog FAQ
Why do so many robot dog toys have wheels instead of working legs?
It is very difficult for a robot to utilize legs as they work for living beings. It is far easier, and more importantly cheaper, to develop a robot dog toy that places wheels on the bottom of leg-looking appendages for movement.
Is a robot dog toy a good companion for the elderly?
While it depends on the individual in question, robot dog toys can help with isolation. Loneliness is an important issue for the elderly population. While there is no true replacement for human connection and companionship, robot dog toys can be effective supplements, especially in nursing homes where pets aren’t allowed or for those who are unable to take care of a living pet.
How long does it take to train a trainable robot dog toy?
This entirely depends on the model. Usually, it shouldn’t take more than a few days for a robot dog toy to learn a few patterns of speech and respond to commands consistently. However, cheap robot dog toys can be much more frustrating to train than higher-priced models. If you want to purchase a robot dog toy mainly to train it, it is worth spending a bit more for a higher quality model.
Which robot dog should I get?
Best of the best robot dog
Joy for All Companion Pet Golden Pup
What you need to know: Though expensive, this robot dog toy is the perfect companion for all ages.
What you’ll love: Its realistic design, soft coat and lifelike movements make the Joy for All Companion Pet the closest you can get to the real thing.
What you should consider: This robot dog toy is expensive at $130.
Where to buy: Amazon
Best bang for your buck robot dog
Westminster Chi-Chi Chihuahua
What you need to know: Chi-Chi the Chihuahua actively barks and moves, entertaining everyone around it.
What you’ll love: This model is an affordable and classically designed robot dog toy.
What you should consider: This chihuahua doesn’t have the same range of features as more expensive robot dog toys.
Where to buy: Amazon
Honorable mention robot dog
FurReal Friends Jake, My Jumping Yorkie
What you need to know: This ultra-plush robot dog toy is the perfect cuddle companion for kids.
What you’ll love: A motion sensor activates Jake’s tricks, including sitting and standing.
What you should consider: The included batteries need replacing almost immediately.
Where to buy: Amazon
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Jordan C. Woika 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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The best robot dog
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[
"Haleluya Hadero",
"Glenn Gamboa",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:51:38+00:00
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2021-08-16 17:47:37
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Humanitarian aid is flowing into Haiti following Saturday’sdeadly 7.2-magnitude earthquake. However, the Caribbean nation’s political unrest, as well as an approaching tropical storm, is complicating efforts. Nonprofit groups and philanthropy experts say the assassination last month of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, as well as accusations that money raised following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti never […]
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A woman sleeps outside her home in Saint-Louis-du-Sud, Haiti, Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, two days after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck the southwestern part of the country. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Humanitarian aid is flowing into Haiti following Saturday’sdeadly 7.2-magnitude earthquake. However, the Caribbean nation’s political unrest, as well as an approaching tropical storm, is complicating efforts.
Nonprofit groups and philanthropy experts say the assassination last month of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, as well as accusations that money raised following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti never reached those in need, will make fundraising for the nation even tougher.
Art delaCruz, CEO of Team Rubicon, a nonprofit that deploys emergency response teams to work with first responders in disaster areas, said the first briefing his teams in Haiti and the Dominican Republic had with support teams in the United States was about security.
“The assassination of the president, the almost gang-like existence there, it really increases the risk to organizations like ours that deploy into this situation,” delaCruz said. However, Team Rubicon, which was founded in 2010 by Marines Jake Wood and William McNulty in response to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, has experience on the ground in the country and in similar situations around the world.
“It’s dicey for everyone because the information is incomplete and the situation is dynamic,” delaCruz said. “One way we have a competitive advantage on this is we are an organization where 70% of the volunteers are veterans. They have seen this kind of an environment.”
Nate Mook, CEO of World Central Kitchen, cited the need for adaptability as well. He was in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince on Monday, managing the nonprofit’s efforts to combat food insecurity following the earthquake, but found that its transportation system was needed to bring injured people to the hospital.
“We’ve been really focusing, not just on food, but also how we can support our local partners,” he said. “We’ve spent a lot of time here. We know how to navigate the complexities.”
Haiti inspired chef Jose Andres to found World Central Kitchen following the 2010 earthquake and the nonprofit has maintained a presence there, opening a culinary school in 2015 that is now one of two bases of operations to provide thousands of meals a day.
“People are hungry and they’re getting desperate and that creates instability and a lot of concerns, so we need to work with our partners to get them food, to make sure food is available,” Mook said.
Skyler Badenoch, CEO of the Florida nonprofit Hope for Haiti, says the response has also been complicated because its staff has been directly affected by the disaster. The organization is now gearing up to distribute $60 million worth of first aid supplies and medical equipment to help those affected, he said.
Aid to Haiti has been probed for years and scrutiny intensified in 2015 when an investigation from ProPublica and NPR questioned where $500 million raised by the American Red Cross was spent.
The American Red Cross said in an emailed statement that it is not seeking donations for Haiti relief at this time, but will work with its partners — including the Haitian Red Cross and the Red Crescent — to respond to the earthquake. It also disputed the ProPublica/NPR findings. “Americans donated generously in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake to save lives — which is exactly what their donations did,” it said in a statement.
Despite the criticisms the Red Cross has received, Maryam Zarnegar Deloffre, an expert in humanitarian aid and professor at George Washington University, said she believes donors will continue to rely on the organization because of its reputation.
“It has been resilient,” she said, partly because the organization is easily recognized by donors for its work with blood drives, and other things.
This time around, Marleine Bastien, the executive director of the Family Action Network Movement, a social service organization based in the “Little Haiti” neighborhood in Florida, says her organization will devise a plan to hold accountable every group that’s collecting donations for Haiti.
“We definitely do not want another film titled ‘Where Did The Money Go’?” Bastien said, in reference to the 2012 documentary that looked at donations given to Haiti relief following the 2010 earthquake.
The deadly earthquake hit Haiti at the same time a growing humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Ethiopia, and instability is rocking Afghanistan. Deloffre, of George Washington University, said she believes fundraising prospects for the country are bleak.
“I unfortunately do not expect broad global attention to the earthquake in Haiti,” she said. “Or public giving, on the same scale as we saw in response to the 2010 earthquake.”
Past allegations of misspent donations have created some hesitancy as well, said Badenoch, of Hope for Haiti, though the need following the most recent earthquake may be even more intense.
“It is quite possible that Haiti is going to need more help than ever before,” said Akim Kikonda, Catholic Relief Services’ country representative in Haiti.
Laura Durington, Catholic Relief Services’ director of annual giving, said the group, which has worked there for 50 years, is providing whatever help that it can. It started to distribute emergency supplies Monday because they had stockpiled tents and metal sheeting there previously.
“Yes, there have been some bad actors, but not giving because of that is short-sighted,” Durington said. “It’s really frustrating, because every penny that was given to us for Haiti went to Haiti. There has been incremental, positive change. And Haiti’s needs are so critical right now.”
___
The Associated Press receives support from the Lilly Endowment for coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.
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Haiti’s troubled history may slow aid to earthquake victims
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[
"Anne M. Peterson",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 02:00:36+00:00
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2021-08-16 17:47:34
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U.S. forward Carli Lloyd is retiring after a decorated career that included a pair of World Cup titles and two Olympic gold medals, as well as a bronze medal at the Tokyo Games. The two-time FIFA World Player of the Year known for her dramatic hat-trick in the 2015 World Cup final will play four […]
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U.S. forward Carli Lloyd is retiring after a decorated career that included a pair of World Cup titles and two Olympic gold medals, as well as a bronze medal at the Tokyo Games.
The two-time FIFA World Player of the Year known for her dramatic hat-trick in the 2015 World Cup final will play four as-yet unannounced friendly matches this fall with the U.S., and finish out the season with her club team, Gotham FC. She hinted for more than a year that she was nearing the end of her career and made it official Monday.
“Through all the goals, the trophies, the medals and the championships won, what I am most proud of is that I’ve been able to stay unapologetically me,” said Lloyd, whose international career has spanned some 16 years. “My journey has been hard, but I can honestly say I’ve stayed true to myself, to my teammates, my coaches, the media and the fans throughout my entire career and that is what I am most proud of. Everyone sees the moments of glory, but I have cherished the work behind the scenes and the adversity that I’ve had to overcome to get to those glorious moments.”
The 39-year-old Lloyd scored a pair of goals in the United States’ 4-3 victory over Australia in the bronze medal game in Japan earlier this month. She became the first American to score in four different Olympics, and her 10 total goals in the event set a new record among U.S. players.
She ranks second on the national team’s all-time list with 312 appearances, and fourth with 128 goals.
Lloyd is probably best known for her three goals, all in the space of 16 minutes, to lead the United States to a 5-2 victory over Japan in the 2015 World Cup final. Her third goal in that match was a blistering strike from midfield.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Lloyd scored in overtime in a 1-0 victory over Brazil in the final. Four years later, she scored both goals in the gold-medal match against Japan at Wembley Stadium, becoming the only player to score winning goals in consecutive Olympic finals.
“Carli Lloyd is a true legend,” U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski said. “Her career was unique, and her success on the field is something all current and future National Team players should aspire to achieve. The way she approached her everyday training and career as a professional is truly impressive and I’ve been honored to coach her.”
A New Jersey native, Lloyd has played professionally for some 12 years, spanning time in the now-defunct Women’s Professional Soccer league and in the National Women’s Soccer League. She also had a brief stint with Manchester United in the Women’s Super League.
Known for her steely focus and competitiveness, Lloyd suggested after the United States’ run to the 2019 World Cup title that she would try to make the roster for the Tokyo Games, but it would likely be her last major tournament with the national team.
When the Olympics were pushed back a year because of the coronavirus pandemic, Lloyd underwent a knee procedure and worked her way back under a new trainer. She also took advantage of the downtime to reconnect with her family, from whom she’d been estranged for much of her career.
“To end my career knowing my family was able to be by my side and share this last chapter with me could not have been any more special,” she said. “We will all have a lot more time to spend together now, and especially with my husband Brian, who has been my rock and biggest support system for all these years. We are both looking forward to starting this next chapter of our lives without my everyday grind of training and playing, but I will most likely need to another outlet for my competitiveness! Perhaps that will be golf?”
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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US forward Carli Lloyd retiring after decorated career
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https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/sports/us-forward-carli-lloyd-announces-retirement/
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[
"Jordan C. Woika",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:45:26+00:00
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2021-08-17 12:05:11
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Our team of experts has selected the best Nintendo Switch dock out of hundreds of models. Don't buy a Nintendo Switch dock before reading these reviews.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arklatexhomepage.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Felectronics-br%2Fgaming-accessories-br%2Fbest-nintendo-switch-dock%2F.json
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Three different styles of dock: open, closed and multiport hub mean there’s a perfect dock made exactly for your needs.
Which Nintendo Switch dock is best?
The Nintendo Switch is the perfect hybrid of a home console and portable gaming machine. Playing on the go is easy; you just pluck the system from its dock, and you’re rolling! What isn’t easy is dragging around all the different gear you need to connect it to another TV that isn’t your own. Getting another Nintendo Switch dock to leave at all the places you go eliminates that hassle.
The best Nintendo Switch dock we’ve found is the Nintendo Switch Dock Set. It comes bundled with an AC adapter and an HDMI cable to eliminate the need for extra purchases, so all you need to do is set it up and forget it.
What to know before you buy a Nintendo Switch dock
Portability
Some Nintendo Switch docks are much more portable than others. Some are bulky chunks of plastic that take up lots of space, while others are no more than a specialized dongle.
Available ports
A Nintendo Switch docking station can have many different combinations of ports, but mainly, they have a USB-C port for the AC adapter, one USB port and one HDMI port. In addition, some docks can have extra ports for various reasons, like the ability to charge extra controllers at once or, in rare cases, a LAN port.
Very few Nintendo Switch docs currently come with a LAN port, requiring a LAN adapter that plugs into what is often your only USB port. However, Nintendo is releasing an updated first-party dock that includes a LAN port alongside the OLED Nintendo Switch in October 2021.
Dock style
There are three main styles of Nintendo Switch dock: closed, open and multiport hub.
Closed: This is the style of a dock that Nintendo includes with the system when originally purchased. You cannot see the screen when the Switch is plugged into the dock, but you receive greater stability and protection of the system in return.
Open: This is the most common third-party style of dock. It does not have a front panel; instead, it uses a backward sloping back panel the Nintendo Switch rests on. This type of dock can double as both a TV connector and a portable charge-and-play stand, but it also means much less protection of the system when in use.
Multiport hub: This style of Nintendo Switch dock isn’t actually a dock at all but a multiport dongle. It features no stand for the system to rest on or against but is incredibly mobile in return. This is perfect for those who are constantly moving between multiple TVs, but you have to leave the Switch on the ground or your TV stand with no protection, greatly increasing the risk of accidental damage.
Nintendo Switch dock features
Additional device charging
Any open Nintendo Switch dock type functions as Nintendo switch charging dock since you can charge any device that uses a USB-C port as its charger by simply placing it on the dock instead of your Switch.
Cooling assistance
Some Nintendo Switch docks feature additional cooling methods to help protect your Nintendo Switch from heat-related damage caused by overuse or hot environments. This can be anything from a fan built into the dock or air intake slots placed near the Switch’s heat sources.
Nintendo Switch dock cost
Nintendo Switch docks come in a narrow price range of $30-$60 when sold separately but need an AC adapter and an HDMI cable to complete the setup that adds extra cost. Try and find a bundle to save your money and effort.
Nintendo Switch dock FAQ
Which Nintendo Switch dock style is right for me?
A. If you’re just wanting to connect your Nintendo Switch to a television, then a closed dock for stability and security is right for you. On the other hand, suppose you want to be able to charge and play your switch at the same time while away from the TV, go with an open dock. Finally, if you’re constantly hopping between multiple locations and TVs, a multiport hub is the way to go.
If most Nintendo Switch docks have only one USB port, why would I need more?
A. You might not! The most common use for the single USB port included with most Nintendo Switch docks is charging a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, a LAN adapter and a Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Charging Dock. If you have more than one of these, then you’ll need some more USB ports!
Which Nintendo Switch dock should I get?
Best of the best Nintendo Switch dock
Nintendo Switch Dock Set
What you need to know: This Nintendo Switch dock set is officially licensed by Nintendo and contains everything you need for a second setup.
What you’ll love: This is the exact same dock, AC adapter and HDMI cable originally sold with the Nintendo Switch system, which eliminates worries about third-party quality.
What you should consider: Nintendo is releasing an updated first-party dock alongside the OLED Nintendo Switch in October 2021.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Best bang for your buck Nintendo Switch dock
RREAKA Multiport Hub
What you need to know: Losing the stand functionality but replacing it with maximum portability makes this Nintendo Switch dock perfect for highly mobile gamers.
What you’ll love: This Nintendo Switch dock comes with an extra USB port that most docks don’t have.
What you should consider: Without stand functionality, you’ll have to lay the Nintendo Switch flat near the TV, making it more prone to accidental damage.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Honorable mention Nintendo Switch dock
GuliKit Pocket TV Dock
What you need to know: This open-faced dock not only connects to your TV but can double as a portable charging stand for on-the-go gaming.
What you’ll love: Air intake slots near the Nintendo Switch’s sources of heat keep the system cool in hot environments.
What you should consider: This dock requires the use of an official Nintendo Switch AC adapter to function properly.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Jordan C. Woika 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 Switch dock
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https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/gaming-accessories-br/best-nintendo-switch-dock/
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[
"Claudia Lauer",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:44:16+00:00
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2021-08-17 14:02:03
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A group of more than 100 former and current prosecutors and law enforcement officials is calling on President Joe Biden to prioritize criminal justice reform and make good on his campaign promise to form a task force to evaluate how criminal cases are prosecuted in the U.S. The group, which included state […]
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FILE – In this Aug. 10, 2021, file photo President Joe Biden speaks about the bipartisan infrastructure bill from the East Room of the White House in Washington. A group of more than 100 former and current prosecutors and law enforcement officials is demanding President Joe Biden prioritize criminal justice reform and make good on his campaign promise to form a task force to evaluate how criminal cases are prosecuted in the U.S. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A group of more than 100 former and current prosecutors and law enforcement officials is calling on President Joe Biden to prioritize criminal justice reform and make good on his campaign promise to form a task force to evaluate how criminal cases are prosecuted in the U.S.
The group, which included state attorneys general, police chiefs and former federal justice officials, sent a letter to the Biden administration Tuesday asking that a task force on 21st century prosecution be convened by the end of the year. It’s the latest call to action from progressive groups that have been putting pressure on the Biden administration and the Justice Department to implement criminal justice overhauls from policing to prisons.
“We haven’t seen a national focus on the work of local prosecutors, who were in many ways the driver of damage that has been done over the decades, but in many ways in recent years in isolated jurisdictions are the source of reform and inspiration,” Miriam Aroni Krinsky, founder and executive director of the group Fair and Just Prosecution and also a former federal prosecutor, said in an interview.
Biden’s criminal justice platform included plans to create a task force to look at prosecutorial discretion, meaning the decisions made on when to charge someone and with what crimes, which varies widely across jurisdictions and can mean longer sentences, parole or probation and force some people to take plea deals.
The letter writers are hoping the administration will take a broader look at prosecutorial policies with its recommended task force. Krinsky’s organization released a research paperTuesday outlining hopes for what the task force would look like and what it could achieve as well as further steps the federal government should take to incentivize implementing recommendations from the task force to make sure its findings don’t sit on a shelf gathering dust.
The Biden administration has held multiple meetings to discuss and implement measures to address rising gun violence across the country as well as touting money in the COVID-19 relief package for policing. Other talks have focused on prison reforms or the death penalty. Attorney General Merrick Garland recently traveled to Chicago and visited a community group focused on driving down violence in the community.
But the group of prosecutors and law enforcement officials in Tuesday’s letter noted much of the discussion around criminal justice reforms neglects to address the importance of prosecutors in the system and policy changes such as ending cash bail and declining to prosecute smaller crimes as ways to address racial inequity, persistent poverty and over incarceration.
“For a president who has very much expressed support for reforming the criminal justice system and a rethinking of the type of tough on crime policies of the ‘80s and ’90s, this is an opportunity to ride the wave of local innovation and pierce the black box of the local prosecutors office, to take the best of what is happening locally and implement it around the country,” Krinsky said.
Under the Fair and Just Prosecution model, the task force would operate outside of the Justice Department and consist of reform-minded prosecutors, civil rights advocates, defense attorneys, crime victims, researchers and those who have been affected by the criminal justice system. The group said the task force should produce a final report in about a year.
The group wants the task force to come up with an implementation plan for its recommendations including an oversight group, and ways to incentivize local prosecutors to enact the recommended reforms through grants and federal policy changes.
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[
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:54:21+00:00
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2021-08-16 16:54:05
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MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian embassy in Kabul alleged Monday that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has fled from Kabul with four cars and a helicopter full of cash, Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti reported. The report quoted embassy spokesman Nikita Ishchenko as saying that “the collapse of the regime … is most eloquently characterized […]
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FILE – In this March 6, 2021 file photo, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, center, inspects an honor guard during the opening ceremony of the new legislative session of the Parliament, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Afghanistan’s embattled president left the country Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021, joining his fellow citizens and foreigners in a stampede fleeing the advancing Taliban and signaling the end of a 20-year Western experiment aimed at remaking Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)
MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian embassy in Kabul alleged Monday that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has fled from Kabul with four cars and a helicopter full of cash, Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti reported.
The report quoted embassy spokesman Nikita Ishchenko as saying that “the collapse of the regime … is most eloquently characterized by how Ghani escaped from Afghanistan: four cars were filled with money, they tried to shove another part of the money into a helicopter, but not everything fit. And some of the money was left lying on the tarmac.”
Asked by The Associated Press about how he knew the details of Ghani’s departure, Ishchenko said “well, we are working here,” without offering any more details. The AP couldn’t independently verify his claims.
Ghani left Kabul on Sunday as the Taliban swept into the Afghan capital. Media reports suggested that the president went to the neighboring Tajikistan or Uzbekistan, but there was no official confirmation of his whereabouts.
Kremlin envoy on Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov on Monday described Ghani’s flight from Kabul as “disgraceful,” adding that Ghani “deserves to be brought to justice and held accountable by the Afghan people.”
Russia’s ambassador to Afghanistan Dmitry Zhirnov told the Ekho Moskvy radio station that, judging by the first 24 hours of the Taliban’s control of the Afghan capital, “right now the situation in Kabul is better than it was under Ashraf Ghani.” “Under the terrorist Taliban it’s better than under Ghani,” Zhirnov said.
Moscow’s criticism of Ghani, whose government had the support of Washington, comes at a time of heightened tensions between Russia and the United States.
Moscow fought a 10-year war in Afghanistan that ended with Soviet troops’ withdrawal in 1989 and has made a diplomatic comeback as a mediator, reaching out to feuding Afghan factions as it has jockeyed with the U.S. for influence in the country.
It has hosted several rounds of talks on Afghanistan, most recently in March, that involved the Taliban — even though Russia has labeled them a terrorist organization.
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[
"The Associated Press",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus",
"De'Anthony Taylor"
] |
2021-08-20 01:49:47+00:00
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2021-08-16 14:12:46
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Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. MOVIES — What’s your appetite for grandiose meta-musicals starring Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard and a puppet baby named Annette? Mileage will almost certainly vary, but Leos Carax’s “Annette,” which opened the Cannes Film […]
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Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week.
MOVIES
— What’s your appetite for grandiose meta-musicals starring Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard and a puppet baby named Annette? Mileage will almost certainly vary, but Leos Carax’s “Annette,” which opened the Cannes Film Festival last month, is certainly one of the most original movies of the year. After a brief run in theaters, it debuts Friday on Amazon Prime Video, bringing Carax’s audacious and tormented opera into millions of homes. It will surely startle some who happen upon it. Just exactly what is this mechanical marionette singing about? But Carax’s dark, dreamy vision, from a script and score by Ron and Russell Mael of the band Sparks, will reward those swept up in it with a startling and ultimately devastating tragedy about art and parenthood that reaches profound heights just as does bizarre fantasy. In her review, AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr called it“a movie best experienced rather than described.”
— “Nothing is more addictive than the past,” says Hugh Jackman’s Nick Bannister in the sci-fi thriller “Reminiscence.” The film, written and directed by Lisa Joy (co-creator of HBO’s “Westworld”) is set in a near-future of rising seas and deep nostalgia for an earlier world. In it, a romance leads Bannister down a dark trail into the past. “Reminiscence” debuts Friday in theaters and on HBO Max.
— In the flood of documentaries about COVID-19, Nanfu Wang’s“In the Same Breath” was one of the first out of the gate. The film, which premiered in January at the Sundance Film Festival, debuts on HBO Wednesday and on HBO Max on Thursday. Wang, the Chinese-born American director of “One Child Nation,” documents the early stages of the pandemic in Wuhan and China’s attempts to shape the narrative around the virus. With the help of some local cinematographers in China, Wang juxtaposes that with the initial response in the U.S. and by President Donald Trump. For Wang, the personal tragedies of the pandemic and the governmental failures span both worlds.
—- AP Film Writer Jake Coyle
MUSIC
— Two ground-breaking female singers, both Hall of Famers, are putting out new albums and reminding fans to bring their flowers now. Rock pioneer Wanda Jackson, the tiny lady with the big voice who toured with Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis, is releasing her final record, “Encore,” on Friday with help from fellow Rock Hall of Famer Joan Jett. Known for her growl on songs like “Let’s Have a Party” and “Fujiyama Mama,” Jackson, 83, retired from touring in 2019, but fans can still hear her tear it up on songs with Jett, Elle King and Angaleena Presley. Meanwhile, Country Music Hall of Famer Connie Smith is back with her 54th album, “The Cry of the Heart,” out on Aug. 20, that shows why she remains one of the most lauded vocalists in country music. Smith was the first female country artist to land her debut single at No. 1, the classic “Once a Day.” On her new record she teams up again with her husband, Marty Stuart, as producer and hit songwriter Dallas Frazier.
— Lorde is ditching the disc for her new third studio album “Solar Power,” out on Friday. Instead of CDs, fans can buy a plastic-free music box that contains a download card and other extras. The young star from New Zealand said in a press release that she wanted “an environmentally kind, forward-thinking alternative to the CD.” Lorde, who broke out with her Grammy-winning song “Royals,” worked again with producer Jack Antonoff for her new album. She’s due to begin a world tour in February 2022 with stops in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States.
TELEVISION
— Nicole Kidman, David E. Kelley and Liane Moriarty teamed for the hit 2019 HBO miniseries “Big Little Lies.” The dynamic trio are back for Hulu’s “Nine Perfect Strangers,” produced by Kelley and based on Moriarty’s eponymous novel about a health resort, the promisingly named Tranquillum House, that caters to stressed-out guests in search of better lives and selves. Kidman plays its director, Masha, who takes a unique approach to her work, with Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Regina Hall and Samara Weaving in the cast. The first three episodes debut Wednesday, with the remaining five released weekly.
— And now for something different: The Disney+ series “Growing Up Animal” follows the “intimate and extraordinary adventure” of babes from the womb, through birth and to their wobbly first steps. Each of the six episodes features a different mom as she protects and nurtures the offspring that rely on her and their own survival instincts. Narrated by Tracee Ellis Ross and debuting Wednesday, the series stars infant chimps, sea lions, elephants, African wild dogs, lions and grizzlies. Say awww.
— Sandra Oh is in charge in Netflix’s “The Chair” as Professor Ji-Yoon Kim, the first woman to head the English department at a small university that’s facing big budget woes. There’s thornier trouble to come, both on campus and at home for single mom Ji-Yoon. Oh’s skill at balancing comedy and drama is on full display, backed by an equally adroit cast that includes Jay Duplass, Nana Mensah and impeccable veterans Holland Taylor and Bob Balaban. The show, from creator Amanda Peet and “Game of Thrones” producers D.B. Weiss and David Benioff, debuts Friday with six episodes.
— AP Television Writer Lynn Elber
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This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Nanfu Wang’s name.
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Catch up on AP’s entertainment coverage here: https://apnews.com/apf-entertainment.
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New this week: ‘Nine Perfect Strangers,’ Lorde and ‘Annette’
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[
"Niniek Karmini",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:50:36+00:00
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2021-08-16 07:18:16
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JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia’s president pledged to improve COVID-19 testing and treatment in a speech Monday marking the country’s independence and said the pandemic has changed Indonesian culture in ways that would be a foundation for advancement. Wearing masks, not shaking hands and avoiding crowds of people were once taboo, while working from home, […]
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Indonesian President Joko Widodo, wearing traditional Baduy outfit, delivers his State of the Nation Address ahead of the country’s Independence Day, at the parliament building in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Aug. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia’s president pledged to improve COVID-19 testing and treatment in a speech Monday marking the country’s independence and said the pandemic has changed Indonesian culture in ways that would be a foundation for advancement.
Wearing masks, not shaking hands and avoiding crowds of people were once taboo, while working from home, distance learning, online meetings and online court have become new habits “that we used to be hesitant to do,” President Joko Widodo said in the national address marking the country’s 76th anniversary of independence.
“Amid today’s disruptive world, the spirit to change, the spirit to make changes and the spirit to innovate have become the foundation to build an advanced Indonesia,” Widodo said. “With the COVID-19 pandemic, the acceleration of innovation has become an integrated part of our everyday lives.”
Only half of the 711 lawmakers and senators were in Parliament for Widodo’s speech on the eve of Independence Day, with the rest attending remotely in a social-distancing measure.
The world’s fourth-most populous country hit peaks last month with daily highs of 50,000 new cases, more than five times the usual highs in June. July was also the deadliest month, with more than 30,100 deaths from COVID-19 as sick people overwhelmed hospitals or died at home or while awaiting care. Its totals of 3.8 million cases and 118,833 fatalities are considered undercounts due to low testing and poor tracing measures in the nation of 270 million people.
Widodo said almost all regional leaders are working hand in hand to address health and economic problems and his administration would improve on-the-ground management in testing, tracing, treatment and vaccination as well as provision of medical oxygen.
“The availability and affordability of medicines should be guaranteed and there is zero tolerance to anyone who obstructs our humanitarian and national missions,” Widodo said.
Once the country’s COVID-19 epicenter, Jakarta has been seeing declines in both active cases and new cases from mid-July to the past week, from over 100,000 to below 15,000 active cases per day and from over 10,000 to below 2,500 new cases per day.
Also, patients are not being turned away like in the past as the bed occupancy rate in hospitals declined in several regions.
Restrictions on public activities, which the government credits with helping to ease pressure on hospitals, are being eased in the capital. Authorities in Jakarta have reopened malls, places of worship and outdoor sport venues since last week with certain capacity limits, and people must show they’ve been vaccinated.
While current data are encouraging, the devastating health crisis is far from over, said Dewi Nur Aisyah, the National COVID-19 Task Force’s IT and data center head. She noted new COVID-19 cases are soaring in certain provinces outside the country’s most populated island of Java despite restrictions.
Indonesia began vaccinating aggressively earlier than many other countries in Southeast Asia. The country aims to inoculate more than 208 million of its 270 million people by March 2022, but authorities have only fully vaccinated 28 million people and partially vaccinated another 30.5 million so far.
“I’m fully aware that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it exhaustion, boredom, weariness, sadness and distress,” Widodo said, acknowledging that many criticisms have been directed to his administration, particularly on matters that have not been resolved yet.
“Constructive criticism is crucial and we always respond to that by fulfilling our responsibilities as expected by the people,” he said.
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President Widodo says pandemic changed Indonesia’s culture
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https://www.arklatexhomepage.com/health/president-widodo-says-pandemic-changed-indonesias-culture/
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[
"Mark Long",
"Associated Press",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:47:36+00:00
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2021-08-17 14:16:28
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Tim Tebow’s comeback and NFL career are over. The Jacksonville Jaguars waived Tebow on Tuesday, parting with the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner who switched from quarterback to tight end in hopes of rejuvenating his pro football career. “We knew that was an uphill battle for Tim,” said coach Urban Meyer, who […]
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Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Tavon Austin, right, makes a reception as tight end Tim Tebow (85) looks to block oncoming Cleveland Browns safety Jovante Moffatt (35) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Tim Tebow’s comeback and NFL career are over.
The Jacksonville Jaguars waived Tebow on Tuesday, parting with the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner who switched from quarterback to tight end in hopes of rejuvenating his pro football career.
“We knew that was an uphill battle for Tim,” said coach Urban Meyer, who recruited Tebow to nearby Florida. “Players loved him, locker room loved him, but it was the right thing (to do).”
Tebow’s blocking ranged from awkward to awful in Jacksonville’s preseason opener against Cleveland on his 34th birthday. The polarizing player went viral for two botched attempts on the opening drive of the third quarter Saturday night, the second one more egregiousthan the first.
“He has a bunch of good plays but can’t have a bad play at that position,” said Meyer, who spoke to Tebow about the roster decision Monday night and again Tuesday morning.
Tebow also failed to record a catch against the Browns and got no snaps on special teams. Meyer said Tebow’s play lacked consistency, especially in tackling. And if Tebow were going to make Jacksonville’s 53-man roster, he needed to be a special teams contributor.
Meyer said he expects this to be the end of Tebow’s playing career.
“I would guess it is,” Meyer said. “We didn’t get that deep with it. Obviously he’s his own man, elite warrior, elite competitor. But he’s also 34 years old.”
Tebow was shielded from the media circus that followed him during other NFL stops and never publicly addressed his return after nearly six years away from the game. The Jacksonville native responded on Twitter and thanked his hometown team for a chance.
“Thankful for the highs and even the lows, the opportunities, and the setbacks,” Tebow wrote. “I’ve never wanted to make decisions out of fear of failure and I’m grateful for the chance to have pursued a dream.”
Tebow opened training camp as Jacksonville’s fourth- or fifth-string tight end after switching positions this year. He was trying to return to the NFL after spending the previous five years in the New York Mets’ organization. He hit .223 with 18 home runs and 107 RBIs while never making it to the big leagues.
He asked Meyer for a tryout after retiring from baseball in January. Meyer obliged and ended up giving him a one-year contract worth $920,000, the minimum for a player with three accrued NFL seasons. The low-risk deal included no guaranteed money, so Tebow had to make the team to earn a dime.
And that was always the uncertain part. Jacksonville entered camp with three tight ends essentially locked into roster spots: run-blocking specialist Chris Manhertz, fellow veteran James O’Shaughnessy and fifth-round draft pick Luke Farrell.
Former and current NFL players criticized Meyer for giving Tebow a roster spot and pointed out a number of more deserving tight ends on the street. But many of Tebow’s teammates welcomed him with open arms.
“It’s still so cool,” said quarterback Gardner Minshew, who wears No. 15 because he grew up idolizing Tebow. “I mean, every time I throw to him, I just smile. That’s like my favorite thing. But it’s like, it’s unbelievable. You hear bigger-than-life stories about the dude and it’s all real. It’s unbelievable. Truly bigger-than-life-type person, so it’s been really awesome to be around him.”
Tebow flashed early during organized team activities and rarely dropped balls thrown his way. But once camp began and players donned full pads, Tebow faded. It quickly became clear that Tebow was less of a pass-catching option than Tyler Davis, a sixth-round selection in 2020, and second-year pro Ben Ellefson.
His blocking woes and lack of experience on special teams made Meyer’s decision a relatively easy one.
“It’s special teams,” Meyer said. “This whole roster management is really critical as we journey here through the next two weeks. Two of the special teams phases are tackling, and he’s never tackled. … We expect to be very good on special teams. Tight end and tailback, if you can’t contribute on special teams, that’s a tough go.”
Tebow helped Meyer and the Gators win two national championships while becoming one of the most recognizable athletes in college sports.
Denver selected Tebow with the 25th overall pick in the first round in 2010. He led the Broncos to a playoff victory in his second season, but his long windup and inaccuracy led to a short NFL career. He spent time with the Broncos, the New York Jets, New England and Philadelphia.
His last meaningful game came with the Jets in 2012. The Eagles cut him following training camp in 2015, with then-coach Chip Kelly saying Tebow wasn’t good enough to be Philly’s No. 3 QB.
NOTES: Veteran C Brandon Linder has strained patella tendinitis and Meyer said “we’re going to sit him for a little bit, but he’s fine.” … CB Tre Herndon has a sprained knee ligament and is considered “week to week.” … The Jaguars also waived CB DJ Daniel, placed DT Daniel Ross on injured reserve and waived/injured WR Josh Imatorbhebhe and Tim Jones.
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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
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Tim Tebow’s comeback story ends with Jaguars cutting him
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[
"David Allan Van",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:56:53+00:00
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2021-08-16 18:52:10
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Trunk organizers allow you to gather all of the things that are skidding around the floor of your vehicle into one place.
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https%3A%2F%2Fwww.arklatexhomepage.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Fautomotive-br%2Finterior-accessories-br%2Fbest-trunk-organizer%2F.json
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A well-made trunk organizer keeps all your groceries and packages from sliding around, spilling things and making a mess of your trunk.
Which trunk organizer is best?
If your groceries are always slipping and sliding around, you may benefit from an organizer. Trunk organizers allow you to gather all of the things that are skidding around the floor of your vehicle into one place, so you won’t have to pick up a bunch of scattered things from your floor mats when you get home.
The Tuff Viking Convertible SUV Trunk Organizer is an excellent choice for hauling groceries because it has many compartments and a cover.
What to know before you buy a trunk organizer
Figuring out what you want to organize should inform your purchase.
The more things you want to carry, the bigger the trunk organizer you will need. The more small things you want to carry, the more compartments you will need.
Measure the space in your trunk or vehicle where you plan to locate your organizer. This measurement should include the height from the floor to the trunk lid. Check to see that whichever trunk organizer you choose will fit easily in the allocated space.
Most trunk organizers are box-shaped, soft-sided and collapsible. Many have handles so you can store them in a small space when you are not using them. Beyond that, the differences to look for when shopping for a trunk organizer are in the materials, the craftsmanship and the ability to customize the interior compartments to meet your exact needs.
What to look for in a quality trunk organizer
Materials
Most trunk organizers are made of lightweight polyester or nylon fabric. To avoid rips and tears, consider thicker fabrics with heavy stitching with reinforced corners and seams. Heavy-duty baseplates will be more durable than organizers with cardboard bases. Make sure the trunk organizer you choose is resistant to water, stains and abrasions. If you plan to haul frozen food or other things that need to stay chilled, find an organizer with a water-resistant or waterproof fabric.
Size
Smaller and lighter items are easily handled by smaller and lighter trunk organizers, while bigger items will need a bigger organizer. Make sure you measure the size of the organizer and the size of your trunk or floor space so the two are compatible.
Storage and organization
Trunk organizers are more than just big empty boxes because they have interior dividers and compartments. Look for well-designed trunk organizers that allow you to adjust the size and configuration of the interior storage space by moving walls, panels and compartments. Exterior storage is also nice to have, so look for a trunk organizer with side pockets.
Trunk organizers use straps, buckles, tie-downs and climbers’ carabiners to prevent your organizer from sliding around while you drive. All of these things should be made of sturdy, high-quality materials. Some models have extra grommets and D-rings, giving you even more options. Stability and security are enhanced by trunk organizers that have non-skid bottoms.
Better trunk organizers have sides that stay upright even when the organizer is empty. This makes loading your trunk easier than if you have to prop up the sides.
How much you can expect to spend on a trunk organizer
Good trunk organizers with more adjustable compartments cost $25-$40. The smallest and most basic trunk organizers might be under $20. Top-of-the-line trunk organizers with lids, insulated compartments and other features might cost $40 or more.
Trunk organizer FAQ
Can I put ice in the insulated compartment of my trunk organizer?
A. Only a few trunk organizers have insulated compartments that are watertight. Keep items chilled with cold packs or ice cubes in zippered plastic bags.
Should I buy a trunk organizer with padded sides?
A. Padded sides are a good idea if you frequently carry fragile things in your trunk. Padded sides not only make your trunk organizer less compact when you fold it for storage but may also add to the expense.
What’s the best trunk organizer to buy?
Top trunk organizer
Tuff Viking 3 in 1 Convertible SUV Trunk Organizer
What you need to know: The unique design of this trunk organizer allows you to quickly transform it from a small two-compartment organizer to a medium-sized four-compartment organizer or a large six-compartment organizer.
What you’ll love: At 34-by-13.5-by-9-inches, this is one of the largest trunk organizers available. This is one of the few trunk organizers that has a lid that keeps your car or SUV clean and neat. This organizer is lined with water-resistant umbrella fabric to guard against spills and splashes. It has a tough three-layer bottom and a removable insulated storage bag for keeping groceries cool on the way home. Tie-down straps keep this organizer in place and keep it from sliding.
What you should consider: The insulated storage bag is not waterproof.
Where to buy: Amazon
Top trunk organizer for the money
Fortem Car Trunk Organizer
What you need to know: The rigid base plates of this trunk organizer support every side panel.
What you’ll love: This 22-by-16-by-10-inch nylon box is collapsible and portable and works equally well in trunks, back seats and front seats. This product has non-slip strips on the bottom to keep it from sliding around when starting, stopping and turning. It comes with interlocking buckles so you can connect two or more organizers.
What you should consider: The non-skid velcro strap is only on one side.
Where to buy: Amazon
Worth checking out
TRUNK CRATE PRO Premium Collapsible Trunk Organizer
What you need to know: This trunk organizer’s strong polyester fabric and reinforced stitching mean it is built to last.
What you’ll love: This 18-by-14-by-13-inch collapsible trunk organizer stays upright even when empty, making it super-easy to load. This is an eco-friendly, professional-grade and extra-large trunk organizer with a strong, stiff 3-layer waterproof base. It has four compartments and two removable and adjustable dividers. The handles are comfortable and heavy-duty. The metal hook straps and strap buckles are well-made.
What you should consider: This product is a bit pricey.
Where to buy: Amazon
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David Allan Van 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 trunk organizer
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[
"Ktal Kmss Staff",
"Abigail Jones",
"Maddy Wierus"
] |
2021-08-20 01:54:00+00:00
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2021-08-17 04:31:30
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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s king called for an end to political bickering at a meeting Tuesday with party leaders as he began the process of selecting a new prime minister amid a worsening coronavirus outbreak. The resignation of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday after less than 18 months in office followed mounting […]
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FILE – In this March 11, 2020, file photo, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, center, speaks during a press conference after his first cabinet meeting at Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Malaysia’s king is set on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2012 to meet the heads of political parties as he swiftly began the task of finding a new prime minister amid a worsening coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s king called for an end to political bickering at a meeting Tuesday with party leaders as he began the process of selecting a new prime minister amid a worsening coronavirus outbreak.
The resignation of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday after less than 18 months in office followed mounting public anger over what was widely perceived as his government’s poor handling of the pandemic. Malaysia has one of the world’s highest infection rates and deaths per capita, with daily cases breaching 20,000 this month despite a seven-month state of emergency and a lockdown since June.
The king, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, has ruled out a new general election because many parts of the country are COVID-19 red zones and health facilities are inadequate.
Muhyiddin was appointed caretaker prime minister until a successor is found.
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who was among eight party leaders summoned for a group meeting at the palace, said the king urged them to end their bickering. The monarch stressed that the new leader should not be vindictive and that all parties must cooperate in tackling the pandemic and reviving the economy, he said.
“The issue here is not about appointing a new prime minister but more importantly, his majesty … stressed the need to forge a new political landscape that is more peaceful for the people,” Anwar told reporters outside the palace.
All party leaders in Muhyiddin’s alliance and the opposition expressed their opinions during the meeting and there appeared to be a consensus to “drop the old style of tired and boring politics and focus on developing the nation,” he said.
The king plays a largely ceremonial role but appoints the person he believes has majority support of Parliament to be prime minister.
Muhyiddin took power in March 2020 after initiating the collapse of the reformist government that won 2018 elections. With a razor-thin majority in Parliament and an unstable coalition, he became the country’s shortest-ruling leader.
The king also asked all lawmakers to individually submit the name of a preferred candidate for prime minister by Wednesday.
This is somewhat similar to how the king picked Muhyiddin last year. The monarch interviewed all 222 lawmakers individually, then sought nominations from party leaders in an arduous process. His choice of Muhyiddin was disputed by the person he ousted, Mahathir Mohamad, and by the opposition.
The selection this time will be another tough chore for the monarch because no coalition hold a majority. Anwar’s three-party alliance, the biggest opposition bloc, has nominated Anwar but has less than 90 lawmakers, short of the 111 needed for a simple majority. That’s also less than the 100 lawmakers believed to have backed Muhyiddin.
Anwar received a boost Tuesday when a party from eastern Sabah state with eight lawmakers said it would throw its support behind him if he is able to secure enough numbers.
Other contenders include former Deputy Prime Minister Ismail Sabri from UMNO, the biggest party in Muhyiddin’s alliance with 38 lawmakers. But he may not get his party’s backing because he earlier led a faction backing Muhyiddin against the party’s decision to pull its support.
Local media said another possible candidate is Razaleigh Hamzah, an 84-year-old prince who was a former finance minister. Razaleigh, also a UMNO lawmaker, is seen as a neutral candidate who could unite the party’s warring factions.
Meanwhile, Mahathir, 96, has called for a national recovery council to be formed and led mainly by professionals to resolve the country’s economic and health crises.
The Bersih electoral reform group urged contenders to pursue political stability by offering multiparty governance and institutional reforms, and not just conduct horse-trading over numbers and positions.
“The endless political machination due to winner-takes-all politics in a de facto hung Parliament for the past one and a half years must now end to enable a more effective governance of health and economy. The new Prime Minister must quickly convene a special meeting and table a motion of confidence in himself to prove his majority,” it said in a statement.
It warned that a short-sighted and self-serving government would be punished by voters in the next election.
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Associated Press video journalist Syawalludin Zain contributed to this report.
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Malaysia king urges halt to bickering as he picks new PM
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