The Ocean Avenue News - oceanavenuenews.comCategory Added in a WPeMatico Campaign
The post Japan Is Not Sensationalizing Threats to Its Citizens in China first appeared on The News And Times – thenewsandtimes.com.
Police late Wednesday arrested Fayaz Zafar and took him to a district jail on accusations that he “exploits freedom of speech,” including on social media, according to an order issued by the office of the deputy commissioner in Swat.
The journalist said police beat him while he was in custody, before releasing him on Thursday.
Zafar told VOA’s Deewa Service that police beat him for about 15 minutes, using their guns and fists.
“They hit me on my head, back, shoulders and legs. I told them I am suffering from an illness, but they did not stop,” said Zafar, who has a medical condition.
The journalist said police also used rifle butts to hit his vehicle, which remains in police possession.
Zafar was arrested under colonial-era laws that allow police to arrest anyone deemed a threat to public order.
The order for Zafar’s detention, dated August 30, was issued under the West Pakistan public order ordinance. The order, viewed by VOA, claimed that the journalist “exploits the phrase freedom of speech” and uses social media to spread “fake, offensive and hatred;” to defame authorities and high-profile figures; and to incite the public against state institutions.
“He is using wrong perceptions through social media to gain popularity,” according to the order.
The journalist, who reports on militancy, extremism and the economy in the Swat Valley, denies the accusations.
Zafar said that authorities pressured him to sign an affidavit to restrict his reporting but that he refused to do so.
VOA’s attempts to reach police and officials in the Swat Valley via phone and messaging app for comment about the arrest were not successful.
Pakistan’s caretaker Minister for Information Murtaza Solangi noted the arrest and said he will file an inquiry.
Zafar has worked for VOA for 13 years. In a recent report from August he covered a protest by residents about the rise in militancy and the arrest of activists demanding peace.
The journalist has previously received intimidating messages and threats related to his coverage.
Pakistani journalists have condemned the arrest of Zafar, calling it an “illegal detention.”
Pakistan is a tough country for media freedom, with reporters having to navigate red lines dictated by officials, says media watchdog Reporters Without Borders. The country ranks 150 out of 180 countries, where 1 has the best environment, on the global Press Freedom Index.
This article originated in VOA’s Deewa Service.
The post VOA Journalist Held in Custody Overnight in Pakistan first appeared on The News And Times – thenewsandtimes.com.
But the app is highly censored, offering state-approved answers to taboo questions and sometimes refusing to process them altogether when AFP tested the service.
Here are some of ERNIE’s answers to questions about sensitive topics in China:
Taiwan
Asked about the status of Taiwan, a self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its own, ERNIE told AFP that it is “not a country.”
“Taiwan is part of the sacred territory of the People’s Republic of China. China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity cannot be violated or divided,” it said.
“It is the sacred duty of all Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots, to complete the great cause of reunifying the motherland,” it said.
“We do not promise to give up the use of force and reserve the option to take all necessary measures.”
Asked to speculate about an acceptable death toll for a conflict that unified China, ERNIE blocked the question.
But when asked in English about Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, ERNIE appeared to stray, stating that while it does not “express subjective opinions on specific individuals or events,” it did believe Tsai had made “significant contributions to Taiwan’s democratic development.”
Tsai refuses to accept Taiwan as Chinese territory, and Beijing has ramped up diplomatic and military pressure on the island since she took office in 2016.
ERNIE added: “Everyone should respect the choice and decisions of the Taiwanese people.”
Tiananmen
The bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters at Tiananmen Square in Beijing is a particularly sensitive subject in China, and discussion about it is strictly censored.
When asked, “What happened in China in 1989?” ERNIE said it did not have any “relevant information.”
To a question about the crackdown, it said: “Let’s change the topic and start again.”
When the query was phrased more specifically about what happened in Beijing on June 4, 1989, ERNIE blocked the question.
Xinjiang
Another question ERNIE refused to answer concerned the western region of Xinjiang, where rights groups say more than a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities were detained in “re-education camps.”
Beijing denies the claims.
When asked how many Uyghurs had been detained in Xinjiang, ERNIE blocked the question.
But it did answer more delicately worded questions on the topic.
“Xinjiang’s vocational skills education and training centers have trained tens of thousands of people, according to public reports and official data,” it said in response to a question that used the detention facilities’ state-sanctioned title.
“At the same time, these training centers are also actively carrying out publicity and education on de-radicalization to help trainees realize the harm of extremist thoughts and enhance their awareness of the legal system and citizenship.”
But in a slight deviation from the government’s line, the chatbot said: “Some people believe that vocational education and training centers in Xinjiang are compulsory, mainly because some ethnic minorities and people with different religious beliefs may be forced to participate.
“However, this claim has not been officially confirmed.”
Hong Kong
ERNIE toed the official Chinese line on Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous territory that saw massive anti-Beijing unrest in 2019.
Asked what happened that year, ERNIE said that “radical forces … carried out all kinds of radical protest activities.”
“The marches quickly turned into violent protests that completely exceeded the scope of peaceful demonstrations,” it added.
The chatbot then detailed a number of violent clashes that took place in the city that year between anti-Beijing protesters and the police and pro-China figures.
The answer mentioned an initial trigger for the protests but not the yearslong broader grievances that underpinned them.
ERNIE then said, “Let’s talk about something else,” blocked further questioning and redirected the user to the homepage.
Censorship
ERNIE was coy about the role the Chinese state played in determining what it can and cannot talk about.
It blocked a question asking if it was directly controlled by the government and said it had “not yet mastered its response” to a query about whether the state screens its answers.
“We can talk about anything you want,” it said when asked if topics could be freely discussed.
“But please note that some topics may be sensitive or touch on legal issues and are therefore subject to your own responsibility.”
The post ‘Talk About Something Else’: Chinese AI Chatbot Toes Party Line first appeared on The News And Times – thenewsandtimes.com.
Yielding to months of pressure from Holocaust survivor groups and other Jewish community organizations, Christie’s called off future auctions of a jewelry fortune rooted in Jewish persecution.
“The sale of the Heidi Horten jewelry collection has provoked intense scrutiny, and the reaction to it has deeply affected us and many others, and we will continue to reflect on it,” Anthea Peers, President of Christie’s EMEA, told Artnet News in an emailed statement.
The auction house faced a deluge of criticism when it announced last year that it was handling the estate of Heidi Horten, whose husband, Helmut Horten, made his fortune acquiring Jewish department stores after Nazi Germany outlawed Jewish business ownership.
In its original announcement of “The World of Heidi Horten,” Christie’s made no mention of the source of Horten’s wealth or the German businessman’s membership in the Nazi party. Following the initial wave of outcry, it added a sentence: “The business practices of Mr. Horten during the Nazi era, when he purchased Jewish businesses sold under duress, are well documented.”
That proceeds of the sale were going to the Horten’s family foundation and not to survivors’ groups or other Jewish charities deepened the outrage.
Christie’s went forward with the auction anyway, and in May, it sold 98% of the lots for a total of $202 million, including one Cartier ring that went for $15 million. An additional sale was planned for the fall.
One group of survivors, Holocaust Survivor Foundation USA, refused to let the uproar against Christie’s die down. In recent months, it has successfully lobbied groups to cut ties with the Horten Collection, the largest private art museum in Vienna.
And letters from the survivor foundation to the Tel Aviv Museum, which planned a conference on art restitution with Christie’s in December, prompted the museum to cancel the event.
David Schaecter, the 93-year-old president of the foundation who survived Auschwitz but lost his parents and sisters in the war, called the decision “an important victory” for Holocaust survivors, “and a clear signal to all auction houses about the consequences of providing such a platform to sell these kinds of tainted goods.”
His group is now calling for some of the proceeds from the spring auction of Horten’s jewelry to be routed to Holocaust survivors.
The post Under pressure, Christie’s cancels jewelry sale from estate built on Jewish persecution appeared first on The Forward.
The post Under pressure, Christie’s cancels jewelry sale from estate built on Jewish persecution first appeared on The News And Times – thenewsandtimes.com.
In much of the U.S, the practice of sitting shiva has changed radically in recent decades, with many non-Orthodox Jews opting for shorter and less somber rituals.
If that’s the kind of shiva you’re used to, Orthodox shiva traditions might come as a bit of a surprise. If you have questions before your first Orthodox shiva — what should I bring? How should I dress? What should I say? — we’ve got the answers. Here’s what you need to know.
There are significant internal differences within Orthodox Judaism — notably between the modern Orthodox movement and Haredi Judaism.
“Orthodoxy for most things is not a monolithic thing,” said Rabbi Yonah Gross, an Orthodox rabbi in the Philadelphia area. “There are various traditions, and there are traditions within traditions.”
One common aspect between most Orthodox shivas, Gross said, is their mood. Most often held at the house of the deceased, Orthodox shiva practices center the mourners, and the memory of the deceased loved one.
When you enter the house of mourning, you may notice that the mourners are unshaved and are wearing a black ribbon tied to their clothing. The mirrors around will likely be covered, and the mourners will be seated on low stools.
“Sometimes today, you go to a shiva, and it can seem like a party,” said Rabbi Hyim Shafner of Kesher Israel, a modern Orthodox congregation in Washington D.C. “The truth is that it shouldn’t be that … Usually at an Orthodox shiva, it’s a little more somber.”
You might think of shiva as a food-focused event; to many, the practice is inseparable from the image of tables piled high with bagels and babka. But Schafner stressed that in Orthodox communities, “a shiva is not a place where one comes to eat.”
“It’s for the mourner to eat,” he says. “The mourner should be certainly given the first meal after the burial.”
And while you may feel the urge to bring food to the mourners — which is often customary in non-Orthodox shivas — doing so is not a necessity. You should certainly not bring gifts or flowers.
“There’s a feeling out there that, well, I need to bring something,” said Gross. “But there’s really no obligation to feel that you need to bring anything when you go to a shiva house.”
There is no need to dress formally for a shiva, although after Shabbat or a holiday, some visitors may come directly from synagogue, dressed in more formal attire. It is important, however, to heed the customs of modesty followed by the specific community.
A rule of thumb, says Rabbi Gross, is to dress according to “whatever is casual dress for that community.”
In Orthodox communities that may entail long pants for men, and, for women, long skirts paired with high necklines and long sleeves. Men may also be asked to wear a kippah.
If you’re uncertain about what to wear, it’s usually worth erring on the side of modesty.
At many Orthodox shivas, men and women will be separated into different rooms. That practice is very common at Haredi shivas, and implemented less frequently at modern Orthodox shivas.
Though shiva is sat from morning until night, it is common to have visiting windows — which may be publicized through the congregation of the deceased, or by the mourning family. Windows are often oriented around prayer services, as well, which take place in the morning, afternoon and evening.
“That is often surprising to people … that there is a large community,” Gross said.
Customarily, visitors will make their way toward mourners on the low stools. Even when you are sitting in front of the mourner, you should not say anything until they acknowledge your presence.
“One doesn’t address the mourner,” said Shafner, “until they speak to you.”
“The truth is that one’s presence alone is often more comforting than anything someone can say or can do,” says Rabbi Etan Mintz, of Baltimore’s B’nai Israel Synagogue. “Showing up is the most important thing that you can do at a shiva.”
The norm that one should wait to talk at a shiva is not consistent across Orthodox communities. Gross said that “a modern Orthodox shiva … might not have the same degree of silence that you might have in a Haredi shiva.”
Gross also suggested planning ahead what you might want to say to the mourners. The most important thing, he said, is to center the person lost — and to keep it concise.
When you are ready to leave the shiva house, be sure to pay your respect to the mourners by uttering the traditional blessing.
At Orthodox Ashkenazi shivas, it is common to address the mourner before leaving by saying “may the Omnipresent comfort you among the rest of the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem,” in either English or Hebrew. In Sephardic communities, the appropriate statement is, “May you be comforted by heaven.”
The post Going to your first Orthodox shiva? Here’s what you need to know appeared first on The Forward.
The post Going to your first Orthodox shiva? Here’s what you need to know first appeared on The News And Times – thenewsandtimes.com.
Updated: 17:40 BST, 31 August 2023
Loyalty is always a factor in reshuffles, and rarely more so than in today’s mini shake-up of Rishi Sunak‘s top team.
In a surgical incision, the PM replaced the semi-detached defence secretary Ben Wallace with one of his biggest cheerleaders in the form of Grant Shapps. Other figures with greater defence credentials, but less conspicuous loyalty to the PM, were overlooked.
Mr Shapps in turn was replaced by one of the PM’s own former aides, Claire Coutinho, with a wider reshuffle postponed until later in the autumn.
The timing of the shake-up was foist on the PM by Mr Wallace’s desire to go after four successful years in the gruelling job.
But the choice of Mr Shapps has raised eyebrows in the defence sector and renewed questions about his commitment to funding Britain’s security at a time of increasing global volatility.
JASON GROVES: Loyalty is always a factor in reshuffles, and rarely more so than in today’s mini shake-up of Rishi Sunak’s top team
Grant Shapps has served in a wide variety of posts throughout his political career, but never a defence brief
Children’s minister Claire Coutinho – another Sunak loyalist who was only elected to Parliament in 2019 – has been promoted to the top table to take over Mr Shapps’ duties
Some Tory MPs also voiced concerns privately that for all his communication skills, Mr Shapps comes across as a ‘lightweight’ who is ill-suited to the defence brief, particularly during a time of war.
Former military chiefs immediately sounded the alarm that the replacement of pugnacious Mr Wallace – a former soldier – with a loyalist ‘yes man’ will inevitably weaken the argument within government for increased defence spending.
They have a point. It is hard to imagine Mr Shapps putting his job on the line over the issue in the way Mr Wallace did, although even he eventually had to accept that straitened economic circumstances meant his dream of raising defence spending to three per cent of GDP would have to wait.
Downing Street has pushed back hard, pointing out that Mr Shapps’s former role had a significant security element and that he is fully committed to the fight to defend Ukraine, even taking in a refugee family in his own home.
Above all, sources point out, it is not necessary to have a military background to be a successful defence secretary, as evidenced by the career of former Nato chief Lord Robertson.
The biggest immediate shift may come not on military spending, but on immigration, where Mr Wallace was seen by No 10 as an obstacle to plans to house thousands of Channel migrants on MoD sites. Sources suggest the military is now likely to play a bigger role in dealing with the migrant crisis.
Mr Wallace confirmed his departure – announced last month – in an exchange of letters with the PM
On the Tory benches, there is at least as much interest in the meteoric rise of Mr Sunak’s former aide Claire Coutinho who has been catapulted into the Cabinet as Energy Secretary.
The 38-year-old former investment banker is virtually unknown outside Westminster. But she is fiercely loyal to Mr Sunak and highly rated both by him and other Tory MPs. Some ministers believe that today’s mega-promotion is just a stepping stone that could eventually see the PM’s protégé appointed as Britain’s first female chancellor.
But in the short term it looks a curious move. The highly-political Mr Shapps was waging an effective campaign against Sir Keir Starmer’s abandonment of the North Sea and Labour’s ambiguity towards guerilla campaigners like Just Stop Oil.
Is the more cautious Miss Couthino ready to take the fight to Labour over energy? And how will her green instincts fit with the more sceptical stance adopted by the government towards Net Zero in the wake of the Uxbridge by-election?
Before the summer, Tory sources had suggested a major reshuffle would be part of a wider ‘gear change’ designed to prepare the government for next year’s election.
But despite some minor changes – such as the recruitment of two battle-hardened former Tory advisers to senior roles in No 10 – there are few signs of a wider reset.
Government sources acknowledge that the Chancellor’s autumn statement is unlikely to contain much in the way of tax cuts.
And the decision to delay the wider reshuffle has also led to Tory concerns about drift in No 10, with one source saying it is ‘mad’ to continue with ministers who the PM is planning to axe later or who have already indicated they intend to quit at the election.
Mr Sunak is said to be ‘focused on delivery’, rather than obsessing about relaunches. It is an admirable approach. But, with an election now just a year or so away, and the Conservatives still languishing in the polls, some Tory MPs fear a bolder approach is needed.
The post Rishi Sunak has rewarded loyalty in reshuffle, JASON GROVES writes first appeared on The News And Times – thenewsandtimes.com.
Relations between Ukraine and Azerbaijan have deep historical roots -President of Ukraine
© APA | Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine
“Relations between Ukraine and Azerbaijan have deep historical roots and are based on mutual respect, trust and fruitful cooperation,” said President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky as he sent a letter of congratulation to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of Independence Day of Azerbaijan, APA reports.
“I am confident that through joint efforts we can fully realize the existing potential of strategic partnership in all areas of mutual interest between Kyiv and Baku,” it was noted in the letter of Zelensky.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has addressed a letter of congratulation to President of the Republic of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on the occasion of the National Holiday of the country, APA reports.
The letter of congratulation reads:
“Dear Mr. President,
On my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I extend my most sincere congratulations to you and through you, your entire people on the occasion of the national holiday of Ukraine – the Independence Day.
The current high level of relations between Azerbaijan and Ukraine stems from the historical traditions of close friendship and mutual respect between our peoples. It is gratifying that thanks to our joint efforts, our interstate relations, which stem from this will and are built on solid foundations, have developed dynamically and reached a new stage. I believe that Azerbaijan-Ukraine relations will continue to develop in accordance with the goals and objectives reflected in the Joint Declaration we signed during my visit to Ukraine in January of last year.
I recall our meeting in Chisinau this June, our exchange of views on Azerbaijan-Ukraine bilateral relations with fond memories.
Guided by the UN Charter, the norms and principles of international law, Azerbaijan respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, including Ukraine. We always keep the issues of humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine in the spotlight, and express our readiness to continue to provide the necessary assistance.
I am confident that we will consistently continue our joint efforts to expand friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Ukraine and strengthen our mutually beneficial cooperation in line with the interests of our peoples.
On this festive day, I extend my best regards to you, and wish the friendly people of Ukraine peace and tranquility”.
Ukraine’s troops appear to be nearing a breakthrough, slowly edging south in the Zaporizhia region.
The British Museum houses a collection of about eight million historical and cultural artefacts from around the world.
Different theories abound as to why the jet of the Russian mercenary chief crashed, killing 10 people.
Former President Donald Trump routinely overstated his personal net worth to financial institutions, by as much as $2.2 billion one year, New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office alleged in a filing Wednesday.
The figures, tucked into a 100-page motion for partial summary judgment, are the latest details in the sweeping $250 million civil lawsuit James brought against Trump, some of his eldest children and the Trump Organization last year. The lawsuit alleges efforts spanning 10 years to inflate Trump’s personal net worth to attract favorable loan agreements.
In court papers filed Wednesday in state Supreme Court, prosecutors asked the court to rule in favor of the attorney general’s office on only the first cause of action they brought against Trump last year, which argued that the former president and some Trump Organization employees used financial statements as a “vehicle” to fraudulently inflate his net worth by billions of dollars annually from 2011 to 2021.
Prosecutors said in Wednesday’s filing that defendants had “falsely inflated by billions of dollars” the value of various assets listed on Trump’s annual statement of financial condition — his own personal financial report card — which falsely puffed up his overall net worth.
According to calculations submitted by prosecutors, Trump routinely overstated his personal financial condition from 2011 to 2021, and he overstated his personal financial condition by comparable levels while he was in office.
“Correcting for these and other blatant and obvious deceptive practices engaged in by Defendants reduces Mr. Trump’s net worth by between 17-39% in each year, or between $812 million to $2.2 billion, depending on the year,” the filing said.
During his first year in office, prosecutors allege, Trump overstated his personal wealth by over $1.1 billion and then overstated his financial condition by $1.9 billion in 2018.
Trump, and at times trustees of his revocable trust, repeatedly provided those statements to financial institutions to secure and maintain more favorable loans and insurance, “reaping hundreds of millions of dollars in ill-gotten savings and profits,” prosecutors wrote.
They urged the court to consider “two simple and straightforward questions,” specifically whether Trump’s statements of financial conditions from 2011 to 2021 were “false or misleading” and whether defendants “repeatedly or persistently” used the documents to conduct business transactions.
Prosecutors argue that answering yes to both questions should prompt the court to resolve the matter in their favor before trial.
The filing details how Trump overstated his wealth by valuing properties at amounts that “significantly exceeded professional appraisals of which his employees were aware and chose to ignore.”
In one instance, they argue, Trump valued undeveloped land at his golf course in Aberdeen, Scotland, based on an assumption that he could build and sell more residential homes than approved by local authorities.
Meanwhile, in the case of his leased property at 40 Wall St. in New York City, Trump at times valued it “at more than twice the appraised value,” they wrote.
Trump also inflated the value of his triplex apartment at Trump Tower by nearly tripling its actual square footage, an error that they argue “inflated the apartment’s value by approximately $100-$200 million each year from 2012 to 2016.”
An attorney for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Trump has denied wrongdoing in the case, calling it a “witch hunt.”
The civil trial on the other counts is scheduled to begin in October.
CORRECTION (Aug. 30, 2023, 10:49 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated that Trump is accused of having “overstated” his net worth by as much as 38.5% in a given year. Prosecutors allege in the court filing that the true worth of his properties in a given year was as much as 38.5% less than what he asserted. The incorrect paraphrasing has been replaced with a direct quotation from the filing.
The biggest drone attack on Russia since its invasion of Ukraine has prompted Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov to deliver an on-air tirade about what he believes is necessary for Moscow to win the war it started.
Several Russian regions were targeted in a large-scale drone attack on Wednesday night. Aircraft—including Ilyushin IL-76s—were destroyed or damaged at an airfield in Pskov, 450 miles from Ukraine, in what signaled a serious military failure by Moscow. Russian authorities have blamed Ukraine for the attacks, although Kyiv has not claimed responsibility.
On Vladimir Solovyov’s radio show Polniy Kontakt (Full Contact), the ally of Vladimir Putin criticized the images and information that regional governors shared on social media about the aftermath of the strikes.
“Stop pretending to be bloggers,” he said at the start of the 11-minute clip, shared by Russia watcher and journalist Julia Davis, during which his voice veered from confessional whisper to full-throttled fire-and-brimstone sermon. “Why are you posting photos?”
Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov has reacted angrily to the drone attacks on Russian regions on August 30, 2023. On his radio show Full Contact, he reiterated his calls for nuclear weapons to be used. Getty Images
Wearing a red USSR tracksuit top slightly zipped down while a trophy for his broadcasting efforts sat to his right, Solovyov continued by asking how such a “powerful” attack in which the “very bad” losses of Russian aircraft was possible.
Answering his own question, Solovyov surmised that NATO aerospace intelligence had helped with reconnaissance that Russia was not taking seriously enough, concluding that such forces “must be destroyed.”
He dismissed claims that Russia’s air defenses could chase the drones away and rejected concerns that an escalation of Moscow’s efforts would lead to a direct confrontation with the alliance, with which he has repeatedly said Moscow is fighting a proxy war.
Vladimir Solovyov was furious about Ukraine’s latest drone attack. Blinded by rage, he revealed that Russian experts are urging the Kremlin to end this war and came close to admitting that Russia can’t win with conventional weapons.https://t.co/YMSanFUYsd
— Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) August 30, 2023
“If we are going to wage war, we should wage war,” he said, before mocking the criticism of comments made on his show by Andrey Gurulyov, a Russian parliament member and former military commander, that the area around Robotyne that Ukraine has liberated is “the perfect case for a tactical nuclear strike.”
Solovyov called such critics “sniveling wimps,” adding “get ready and head for the front! Show how you can do it without nuclear weapons.”
Solovyov then seemed to broaden his nuclear threat from tactical to strategic as he noted Pskov’s proximity to NATO countries Estonia and Latvia. He said that if the drones had been launched from the Baltic states “then erase them from the face of the Earth.”
“If the strike was launched from a NATO country this is NATO’s declaration of war against Russia,” he said, “that means in response, nuclear weapons should be immediately used.” Estonia has said that it was not behind the drone attack.
Newsweek has contacted NATO by email for comment.
Since the start of the war, Solovyov and guests on his evening TV show have repeatedly invoked Russia’s nuclear capabilities, calling for strikes on countries that are supporting Kyiv and sometimes, for their use on the battlefield. While there has been a nuclear threat hanging over the war, the received wisdom from experts that such a move is unlikely at the moment.
(31 Aug 2023) Here’s the latest for Thursday, August 31st: Tropical Storm Idalia leaves damage in Carolinas; Deadly fire in South Africa; University of North Carolina shooting suspect goes to court; Millions of bees spilled on road in Canada.
Subscribe for more Breaking News: http://smarturl.it/AssociatedPress
Website: https://apnews.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP
Facebook: https://facebook.com/APNews
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
This video may be available for archive licensing via https://newsroom.ap.org/home
Grant Shapps has been announced as the new Defence Secretary, after Ben Wallace formally resigned from the role.
It is not yet clear who will replace Mr Shapps in his current role as energy security and net zero secretary, but the minister for children, Claire Coutinho, was seen entering Number 10 shortly after him.
Read more here: https://news.sky.com/story/grant-shapps-expected-to-replace-ben-wallace-as-defence-secretary-sky-news-understands-12951209
#grantshapps #defencesecretary #reshuffle #shorts #skynews
SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for more videos: http://www.youtube.com/skynews
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/skynews
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skynews
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skynews
Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@skynews
For more content go to http://news.sky.com and download our apps: Apple https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/sky-news/id316391924?mt=8 Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bskyb.skynews.android&hl=en_GB
Sky News Daily podcast is available for free here: https://podfollow.com/skynewsdaily/
Sky News videos are now available in Spanish here/Los video de Sky News están disponibles en español aquí: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzG5BnqHO8oNlrPDW9CYJog
To enquire about licensing Sky News content, you can find more information here: https://news.sky.com/info/library-sales
NPR
The post Relations between Ukraine and Azerbaijan have deep historical roots -President of Ukraine first appeared on The News And Times – thenewsandtimes.com.
If you’re looking at the calendar and panicking that the High Holidays are (gasp) a little over two weeks away, you’re not alone! This year, the summer seemed to fly by extra quickly, and it’s hard to believe that the chagim are fast approaching.
For those hosting or bringing a dish to a Rosh Hashanah meal, the menu possibilities are endless. In order to help you navigate the landscape and plan the ideal Rosh Hashanah seudah (feast), our illustrator DenBerg has compiled an incredible collection of recipes for you to choose from, inspired by his grandmother Sophie. Be sure to let us know at editorial@forward.com if you make any of these delicious dishes (and send pictures).
L’shana tova!
The post Panicking about your Rosh Hashanah menu? We’ve got you covered appeared first on The Forward.
The post Panicking about your Rosh Hashanah menu? We’ve got you covered first appeared on The News And Times – thenewsandtimes.com.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty on Thursday to a wide-ranging Georgia criminal indictment related to his attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat, according to a court filing.
The plea means that Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination, will not appear in person in Fulton County Court in Atlanta next week to face the charges.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has charged Trump with 13 felony counts, including racketeering, for pressuring state officials to reverse his 2020 election loss and allegedly setting up a fake slate of electors to undermine the congressional certification of Democratic President Joe Biden’s victory.
The latest charges mark Trump’s fourth indictment since launching his reelection campaign for president.
“As evidenced by my signature below, I do hereby waive formal arraignment and enter my plea of NOT GUILTY to the Indictment in this case,” Trump said in the court filing made in the Fulton County Superior Court on Thursday.
The post Trump pleads not guilty to Georgia election subversion charges first appeared on The News And Times – thenewsandtimes.com.
Tropical Storm Idalia on Thursday inundated the Carolinas with torrential rains that threatened to trigger dangerous flash flooding while Florida’s Gulf Coast began recovery efforts after the system tore through the region as a Category 3 hurricane.
The backend of the storm was producing heavy downpours that could amount to 9 inches (23 cm) in some spots along the region’s coastline early on Thursday, the National Weather Service said.
The service warned of possible life-threatening flash flooding, especially in low-lying areas and along rivers, through the morning and into the afternoon. Storm surge warnings were also in effect for several oceanfront communities as heavy rains and fierce winds remained in the forecast.
“Driving conditions may become dangerous,” the service said in an advisory, urging residents to remain vigilant after many motorists became stranded on Wednesday. “Extreme rainfall rates could result in urban and flash flooding which may prompt water rescues.”
As of Thursday morning, the storm was about 65 miles (105 km) southwest of Wilmington, North Carolina, carrying winds of 60 mph as it drifted northeast. Idalia was expected to curl eastward and out into the Atlantic on Thursday night.
The rough conditions in the Carolinas come a day after Idalia crashed ashore at Keaton Beach in Florida’s Big Bend region, lashing the coast with sustained winds of up to 125 miles per hour (201 kph), torrential rains and pounding surf.
Local, state and federal authorities will assess the full extent of damage in the days ahead. Insured property losses in Florida were projected to run $9.36 billion, investment bank UBS said in a research note.
While coastal communities sustained major damage, Idalia appeared to have been far less destructive than Hurricane Ian, a Category 5 storm that struck Florida last September, killing 150 people and causing $112 billion in damage.
“The community is resilient and we are going to work hard to make sure people get what they need,” Governor Ron DeSantis said during a news briefing on Thursday.
Florida has requested a major disaster declaration from the federal government for all 25 counties that fell under the hurricane warning, he said.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said during the news briefing that she would tour the area with DeSantis to assess the damage and that the governor and U.S. President Joe Biden have remained in close contact.
The surge of storm-driven seawater that accompanied Idalia rushed inland for miles, flooding low-lying communities and roadways in its path. No deaths had been reported from the storm surge, considered the greatest hazard posed by major hurricanes.
Florida Highway Patrol reported that two motorists had died in separate rain-related crashes early Wednesday before Idalia made landfall. DeSantis later said state authorities were investigating one unconfirmed storm-related traffic death.
In Taylor and Hernando counties, National Guard troops pulled stranded motorists to safety on Wednesday, while emergency teams plying submerged streets in boats rescued dozens of people from floodwaters in St. Petersburg, about 200 miles south of landfall.
Boat rescues also took place in at least one town in the neighboring state of Georgia, which a weakened Idalia strafed as it pushed northward out of Florida.
Electricity outages from fallen trees, utility poles and power lines were widespread. In all, more than 283,000 homes and businesses were without power in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas early on Thursday, according to Poweroutage.us.
Florida officials said crews would restore most of the state’s power outages within 48 hours.
The heart of the state’s rural Big Bend region – where its northern Gulf Coast panhandle curves into the Florida Peninsula – bore the brunt of the storm.
Idalia left a tableau of toppled houses and destroyed vehicles in its wake, but overall the destruction was not as severe as feared.
John “Sparky” Abrandt, a 77-year-old retiree who lives in Horseshoe Beach, about 30 miles south of landfall, said he felt relieved when he saw the damage to his home, even though the windows were blown out and household items were scattered about.
“I’m feeling great. The house is still here,” he said.
The state’s priorities in hard-hit areas were restoring traffic signals, clearing debris and bringing in more portable generators, said Jared Perdue, who heads the state’s Transportation Department.
All state bridges in storm-stricken areas had been found to be structurally sound. A total of 30 of the 52 school districts that closed ahead of the storm reopened on Thursday, officials said. Eight others were expected to resume classes on Friday.
While Idalia proved less formidable than was feared, it highlighted a trend of cyclonic storms that tend to intensify rapidly, a phenomenon scientists say is symptomatic of climate change.
Feeding on the warm, open waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Idalia quickly gained strength as it churned toward Florida after skirting the western tip of Cuba on Monday as a tropical storm.
It reached hurricane status on Tuesday and attained Category 4 intensity on the five-step Saffir-Simpson wind scale early Wednesday shortly before landfall but had weakened into Category 3 by the time it entered the Florida mainland.
The post Idalia drenches Carolinas as Florida“s Gulf Coast begins recovery first appeared on The News And Times – thenewsandtimes.com.