Social Media

Tommy Robinson, a notorious far-right agitator, has been inciting violence over the Southport stabbings from afar, leveraging his substantial online following of 800,000. Robinson's social media activity suggests he was in Spain last Tuesday while encouraging far-right supporters who clashed with police and attacked a mosque in the coastal town of Southport, Merseyside. After being released on unconditional bail, Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, left the UK for southern Europe last Sunday. He was stopped by police under terrorism laws at the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone, Kent, and was due in the High Court in London the following day over alleged contempt proceedings. Despite his absence, Robinson continued to promote protests in Britain from his European location, believed to have traveled to Greece with his children. The violence in Southport, which injured over 50 officers and terrorized Muslim worshippers, was reportedly sparked by false claims that the stabbing suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker. Merseyside police believe that supporters of the English Defence League (EDL), the far-right group previously led by Robinson, were heavily involved. The suspect is accused of murdering three young girls and injuring ten others. Sammy Woodhouse, a high-profile victim of the Rotherham child grooming gang scandal, also contributed to spreading misinformation about the Southport stabbings while reporting from the town for Urban Scoop, an alternative news site linked to Robinson. In one broadcast, Woodhouse stated, “[People] feel like they are not being told any information. They know the guy’s not a British guy. They know he’s of a different ethnicity. There’s talk of him being a Muslim as well.” This misinformation was shared by Robinson on X (formerly Twitter) even after police clarified that the suspect, born in Cardiff, was not a Muslim and that a name circulating online was incorrect. Robinson continued to stoke tensions with posts such as a video of rioters on a police van, stating, “The British have been pushed too far. Once you start f***ing with their children, taking away their safety. What do you expect to happen?” The next day, he appeared on the Rumble video platform, drinking from a bottle of Bezoya water, which is common in Spain and its islands. By Thursday, Robinson had promoted further disorder in Hartlepool, Aldershot, and near Downing Street, where over 100 arrests were made. He posted about being on a “seven-hour stopover” at an unspecified airport, later identified as Vienna from the Wolfgang Puck Kitchen & Bar. Robinson's social media posts indicated he had moved to another sunny location, likely Greece, by Friday, where he continued to rail against Muslims and share a list of far-right protests planned for the weekend. As violence threatened to erupt in Sunderland, Robinson posted, “The good people of Sunderland out tonight as protests sweep the nation,” and shared footage of youths setting a police station alight, blaming the government for the unrest. A High Court judge issued an arrest warrant for Robinson, effective in October, when he is expected at a full contempt hearing in London. The case involves Robinson’s alleged breach of an injunction forbidding him from repeating false claims about Jamal Hijazi, a teenage Syrian refugee at the center of a 2018 school bullying incident in West Yorkshire. In 2021, Hijazi won £100,000 in damages in a defamation case against Robinson, who falsely accused him of being a violent thug. Robinson repeated these claims at a mass rally in Trafalgar Square, London, last weekend. If found guilty of contempt, Robinson faces up to two years in jail. Woodhouse, introduced by Robinson at the Trafalgar Square rally as a new hire for Urban Scoop, has been a vocal campaigner against child sexual exploitation after being groomed and raped by gang leader Arshid Hussain. Her first assignment for Urban Scoop involved reporting on the Southport stabbings, where she repeated false claims about the suspect's identity and mentioned “civil war” spreading across the UK. Robinson later tweeted, “Well done Sammy on your start to citizen journalism, we are the media now.” Woodhouse defended her reporting, claiming, “My point was simply that the man accused of the stabbing and murdering three little girls is not of typical British ethnicity. There was talk about him being a Muslim by locals who I was reporting on at the time. That does in no way, shape, form or fashion mean that I said he ‘was’ Muslim.” Woodhouse accused the mainstream media of using “inflammatory language like ‘far right’ to conjure [up] an image in the public consciousness of Hitlerian [sic] thugs attacking police for no reason at all.” It also emerged that Joe Marsh, a former football hooligan from Cardiff and founder of Casuals United, promoted the far-right protest in Southport. Marsh, who supports Patriotic Alternative, posted a flyer on X/Twitter and Telegram featuring a blood-stained hand-print and the slogan: “Enough is enough.” Marsh claimed he only shared the flyer and did not organize the event, later deleting the promotional material from X/Twitter. Credit: The Times 2024-08-05 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

It is often feared that individual assassinations will spiral into wars, and the recent Israeli assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday morning, just hours after Hezbollah’s Fuad Shukr was killed, looks as if it might start a new spiral on the road to outright war between Israel and Iran. Shukr was said by Israel to have been behind the bombing of the children’s playground at Majdal Shams on July 27, an incident the Israelis believe was accidental. In retaliation, the Israelis targeted him in a Beirut suburb that is at the heart of Hezbollah leadership. When Haniyeh traveled to Tehran for the inauguration of the new Iranian president, the Israelis targeted him in one of the guesthouses of the presidential compound itself. It was a stunning demonstration of successful intelligence, precision assassination, and Israel’s audacity to kill him on an Iranian state occasion. This act emphasized Tehran’s failure to protect itself, showing Iranian leaders just how vulnerable they all are. On Friday, Iran informed the United Nations that it expected an attack on Israel from its client Hezbollah and that the group would “not limit its response to military targets.” In western capitals, it is judged that neither Jerusalem nor Tehran wants a full-on war. Iran, it is thought, will energize its other clients, including Hamas and the Houthis in Yemen, to fight in support of Hezbollah but will ultimately sacrifice any of them to avoid being on the wrong end of a direct war with Israel. Last time Israel assumed this, in its April attack on the Iranian consular building in Damascus, Tehran and its allies fired 350 missiles and drones back at Israel but inflicted little damage. Hamas is not considered the main security problem for Israel, nor is Gaza, despite the misery of its two million people. The main threat, according to Israeli defense strategists, is Hezbollah in Lebanon and the way Tehran uses it to pursue its open-ended war against Israel. Some in Israel believe it is time to settle the conflict in Lebanon and force Iran to choose: either back off or take them on fully. This is not a universal view among Israel’s political elite or the public, but the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have long entertained this scenario in their strategic planning, and many in the military feel that following the October 7 attacks, its time has arrived. No military wants to fight a multi-front war, and the IDF is facing a semi-circle of adversaries challenging its air defenses from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Yemen. Unrest on the West Bank is close to boiling point, and the Gaza war has been scaled back to an urban counter-insurgency in which the IDF relies mainly on bombing and brief ground incursions. And still, there is no realistic political plan for a Gazan future. But one of the few consistencies in recent IDF policy has been to draw down its ground forces in Gaza to make them available for action in the north. If the Israeli government is prepared to open up a new fighting front in Lebanon, what might a 2024 Lebanon war involve? Certainly, it would not be much like the previous ones of 1978, 1982, or 2006, all of which gave the IDF pyrrhic victories that solved few of the country’s security problems. Hezbollah is not popular among the Lebanese, but it is immensely stronger than it was 20 years ago, following a generation of determined Iranian backing. The judgment that it has more than 150,000 rockets, compared with the 10,000 or so originally attributed to Hamas, is probably an underestimate. Including drones, mortars, and rocket artillery, Hezbollah could attack Israel with closer to half a million weapons. There are networks of Hezbollah tunnels—more than Hamas ever built in Gaza—across southern Lebanon and along the Syrian border, with deep bunkers and firing points honeycombing the area south of the Litani river down to the border with northern Israel. In Gaza, Hamas fights as a terrorist force, but Hezbollah, with up to 50,000 trained fighters, is more than twice the size of Hamas and is trained to operate both as a regular and a guerrilla army. Previous Israeli wars in Lebanon generally focused on clearing their enemies from the land up to the Litani river, creating a buffer zone which then had to be maintained. That would be a much tougher job this time around, though it could probably be achieved. But now Hezbollah also has, in effect, a cheap version of a nuclear deterrent in its multiple thousands of longer-range rockets, all targeted on northern Israel. If it fired them all off in a few huge salvos, they would immediately overwhelm Israel’s air defenses and could devastate population centers and infrastructure across the north of the country, including Tel Aviv and Haifa. If the Israelis could not live with that risk, they would have to conduct a series of rapid offensives deep into Lebanon to overrun Hezbollah’s launching sites and rocket stocks, tunnel systems, and all. If it could not achieve that, Israel might try a fierce and lightning air campaign to neutralize the rocket threat. But at the point where an air offensive was even half successful, Hezbollah would have a high incentive to fire off the other half of its “nuclear” arsenal. And if the IDF got bogged down in Lebanon’s mountainous territory, or found itself bombing targets further north with little strategic effect, or fighting hard inside the Syrian border as Hezbollah made use of the safe haven, it would be a draining operation, constantly threatening northern Israel while renewed attacks from Hamas in Gaza and on the West Bank, and from the Houthis in Yemen would be a near certainty. The IDF’s prospects are poor in all these scenarios. And they would have to swing into action before mid to late October when the weather turns in the Lebanese mountains. Nevertheless, the IDF has been withdrawing units from Gaza and re-equipping them, rebuilding weapon stocks, extending reservist call-up notices, and preparing the 60,000 Israeli residents who have been moved out of the area for an extended period of evacuation. The IDF shows every intention of switching its center of operations from Gaza to Lebanon. It might all be a bluff to frighten Hezbollah into pulling back and desisting from its daily attacks. That’s deterrence. Israeli policy has always been based on such principles; a deterrent in its nuclear force, right down to deterrence in the way its security services assassinate anyone they deem a mortal enemy. This week many in the IDF feel they are “re-establishing” their traditional deterrence after the blow it took in the October 7 attack. Netanyahu has said that every Hamas leader is a “dead man walking” and Israel loses no opportunity to prove it, even in the heart of Tehran. This is dangerous stuff and it will ultimately turn on whether Jerusalem is right to assume that Tehran will always blink first. Credit: The Times 2024-08-05 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. 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A new report by XPOZ has revealed that anti-Israel protests at McGill University have been bolstered by a social media influence campaign with potential ties to Iran. This report adds to growing concerns that foreign entities, particularly Iran and Russia, are manipulating social media to incite anti-Israel sentiments across Canada. Marcus Kolga, the founder of DisinfoWatch, a platform established in 2007 to monitor and expose state-sponsored social media manipulation, has noted a significant increase in such activities. Since the Hamas invasion of Israel last October, Kolga observed a spike in social media accounts shifting from anti-Ukrainian to anti-Zionist content. "Over the past nine months at DisinfoWatch, we’ve observed social media accounts that were previously posting aggressively anti-Ukrainian content, adding anti-Zionist content to their toxic mix," Kolga stated in an email to the National Post. He also highlighted that Russian intelligence has been supporting antisemitic measures and influence operations. These revelations come amid reports of foreign governments, including Iran, sowing divisions in Western countries following the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel. In July, the U.S. director of national intelligence issued a statement warning of Iran's role in boosting anti-Israel protests online. Similarly, France accused Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) of a covert campaign to incite fears of antisemitism by graffitiing Paris with Jewish stars. Kolga referenced a joint effort by American and Canadian intelligence agencies that uncovered nearly a thousand bot accounts promoting Russian government messaging as a stark example of such manipulations. According to Kolga, Iran plays a crucial role in this network, aligned with Russia. "We’ve observed a clear crossover of pro-Kremlin/anti-Ukrainian and anti-Zionist/pro-Hamas narratives by prominent far-left and far-right influencers," Kolga noted. This crossover is evident in the recent report from XPOZ, which identified a coordinated social media influence campaign targeting McGill University’s anti-Israel protests, potentially linked to Iran. XPOZ’s report detailed how the anti-Israel protests at McGill were amplified by social media users, with a significant portion of the commentary in Farsi and Arabic. These accounts expressed support for McGill’s student encampment, endorsed Hamas, and accused Israel of committing "genocide" in Gaza. The company found that 60% of anti-Israel posts related to McGill were made by fake accounts, compared to 75% of the critics of the encampment being authentic users. XPOZ’s analysis involved examining nearly 150,000 posts on Twitter (now X), over half a million likes, and more than 65,000 comments. "In summary, there is a very clear attempt by a foreign power to sow discord and incite public unrest within Canada," the company concluded, noting that such practices violated Twitter’s terms of use. An XPOZ researcher, speaking anonymously, emphasized that authentic social media profiles typically exhibit a range of interests, while fake accounts focus solely on political discourse. This pattern of inauthentic behaviour was corroborated by Kolga, who reviewed the XPOZ reports. "It’s not at all surprising that there’s a significant inauthentic network and activity being observed amplifying narratives that are supportive of Hamas," he said. Joel Finkelstein, co-founder of the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI), supported XPOZ's findings, noting that while the data should be reviewed cautiously, the broader trends align with NCRI's observations. "The claims being made by the research may be hard to determine in specificity, but are largely uncontroversial in terms of broader trends," Finkelstein told the Post. Michael Bonner, a historian of ancient Iran and senior fellow with the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy, remarked on Iran’s longstanding efforts to infiltrate and destabilize Western democracies. "Iranian intelligence now targets Western domestic cultural and political weaknesses and inflames them, as we saw in recent protests," he said. Bonner called on the federal government to impose strict measures to counter such foreign interference. Neil Oberman, a Montreal attorney who represented Jewish students at McGill against the anti-Israel encampment, flagged the XPOZ report as a national concern. Oberman, who is running for the Conservative Party in Montreal, urged the federal government to investigate and prevent foreign manipulation of Canadian social dynamics. "Canada cannot be allowed to be manipulated by foreign countries to create social upheaval. That is not acceptable. Period," he asserted. This issue of foreign interference in Canadian affairs is not new. A report by the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in May found that the 2019 and 2021 federal elections were compromised by meddling from countries including Iran, China, Russia, India, and Pakistan. The report emphasized that Russia's goal is to undermine U.S. dominance and discredit Western policies. While Iran was not deemed a major meddler at the time, officials confirmed they are closely monitoring its activities. At a recent White House briefing, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby acknowledged Iran's role in boosting anti-Israel protests on college campuses. However, Finkelstein cautioned that the Chinese Communist Party's involvement in promoting anti-Israel protests in the U.S. should not be overlooked. The Ministry of Public Safety stated that the government and intelligence agencies take foreign interference seriously and are taking appropriate measures to combat it. Conservative Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsmann criticized the current government’s efforts, calling for more robust actions to stop foreign states from targeting Canada. "Any interference, from any foreign state must be stopped," Lantsmann stated. Credit: National Post 2024-08-05 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

In an unusual move, the Vatican has addressed the controversy surrounding a segment in the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony that many perceived as a parody of Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper." The Holy See issued a press release on Saturday evening, expressing disappointment over the scene, which featured elements that some found offensive to Christian and other religious beliefs. "The Holy See was saddened by certain scenes at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games and cannot but join the voices raised in recent days to deplore the offence done to many Christians and believers of other religions," the Vatican stated. The segment in question aired during the July 26 ceremony and included a tableau reminiscent of the biblical scene of Jesus Christ's last meal with his apostles. This reinterpretation featured drag queens, a transgender model, and a nude performer representing Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and revelry. The Vatican's statement, released in French and reported by Reuters, marked a rare instance of the Holy See commenting on a cultural event outside its usual purview. The Vatican's response came more than a week after the ceremony, leading to speculation about the timing. Some suggest the delay might be connected to a recent phone call between Pope Francis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on August 1. While the Vatican confirmed the call, it declined to comment on its contents. In the statement, the Vatican emphasized the need for respect for religious beliefs during global events like the Olympics. "In a prestigious event where the whole world comes together around common values, there should not be allusions ridiculing the religious convictions of many people," it read. The Vatican also highlighted the balance between freedom of expression and respect for others, stating, "Freedom of expression, which is obviously not called into question, finds its limit in respect for others." The Vatican's intervention adds a new layer to a debate that has already garnered sharp criticism from conservative Christian groups and political figures. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, called the performance a "mockery" that was "insulting to Christian people around the world." Senator Katie Britt, an Alabama Republican, deemed it "disgraceful," while Representative Lauren Boebert of Colorado described it as "disgusting." Former President Donald Trump also weighed in, condemning the event during an interview with Laura Ingraham on FOX News, saying, "I thought that the opening ceremony was a disgrace, actually. I thought it was a disgrace." Despite the backlash, the controversy has sparked a broader discussion about artistic interpretation and cultural representation. Thomas Jolly, the show's artistic director, told the Associated Press that the intention was to "send a message of love, a message of inclusion and not at all to divide." Some religious leaders have offered alternative interpretations of the scene. Atlanta Pastor Cassie Noland Rapko suggested on Facebook that the tableau was more representative of the Feast of Dionysus, given the Olympics' Greek origins and France's cultural emphasis on festivity and the performing arts. In response to the growing controversy, the Paris 2024 organizing committee issued an apology on July 28, stating there was never an intention to disrespect any religious group. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) also released a statement welcoming this clarification and reiterating that any offense caused was unintentional. The Vatican's unusual response to the Olympics opening ceremony underscores the sensitivity of religious symbolism in public events and highlights the ongoing tensions between artistic expression and respect for religious beliefs. As the discussion continues, it remains to be seen how future global events will navigate these complex and often contentious issues. Credit: Newsweek 2024-08-05 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

A suburban St. Louis gym's decision to allow a transgender woman to use the women’s locker room has ignited a firestorm of protests, plans for a boycott, and demands for a state investigation. The incident has drawn sharp reactions and swift action from Missouri's Republican attorney general, raising questions about discrimination and legal rights in the state. The controversy erupted when the transgender woman joined the gym on a Sunday. By the following Friday, the issue had escalated dramatically. A Republican state lawmaker, Rep. Justin Sparks, held a news conference outside the gym, claiming to have been contacted by numerous concerned constituents. Sparks, who represents a district neighboring the gym, insisted he did not organize the protest but felt compelled to address the issue publicly. The gym in question, Life Time, defended its policy, stating that the woman had provided a driver's license identifying her as female. Natalie Bushaw, a spokesperson for Life Time, emphasized that the Missouri Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on sex. Therefore, the gym allowed the member to use the women’s locker room in accordance with the law. Bushaw's statement underlined the gym's commitment to inclusivity and adherence to state regulations. The transgender woman recounted an unpleasant encounter in the gym's sauna, where another patron confronted her, accusing her of being a man and asserting that she did not belong there. Efforts to reach the gym member for further comment were not immediately successful. As tensions mounted, Ellisville police received a report of alleged indecent exposure at the gym, which is currently under investigation. No charges have been filed at this time. Additionally, Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced that his office is investigating the gym's policies. Bailey sent a letter to Life Time warning that their policies could be enabling potentially criminal behavior, stating, "As Attorney General, I will vigorously defend and enforce Missouri’s laws. You face both potential criminal and civil liabilities." Missouri has not enacted specific laws governing transgender individuals' access to public restrooms. The state's attorney general has limited authority to pursue criminal charges, a responsibility typically reserved for local prosecutors. Bailey referenced a 2015 Missouri appeals court ruling in which a man was convicted of misdemeanor trespassing for occupying a women's restroom at a gas station. In that case, the man, who did not claim to be transgender, had disguised his voice and refused to leave the restroom, leading to his arrest. Ellisville police clarified that they are not investigating potential trespassing in the current incident, as the gym had granted the member permission to use the women’s locker room. The legal nuances of property owners allowing such use remain ambiguous under Missouri law. The timing of this controversy is particularly significant as voters are set to decide whether to elect Bailey, who was appointed by Governor Mike Parson, to another term or to nominate Will Scharf as the Republican candidate. Scharf is a member of former President Donald Trump's legal team. In Missouri, a state with strong Republican leanings, the primary winner is likely to have a significant advantage in the November general election. Rep. Sparks has stated, "I have been contacted by a lot of people," emphasizing the level of concern and engagement from his constituents. Sparks' involvement has highlighted the broader political and social tensions surrounding transgender rights and public accommodations in Missouri. Life Time's position remains firm, with Bushaw reiterating, "The Missouri Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. Therefore, the member is to use Life Time’s women’s locker room." This stance underscores the gym's adherence to state law and its commitment to providing a non-discriminatory environment for all members. The ongoing investigation by the attorney general's office and the police department, coupled with the political ramifications of the upcoming election, ensure that this issue will remain in the public eye. The protests and legal challenges reflect the broader national debate over transgender rights and the balance between individual freedoms and societal norms. As the situation develops, it will continue to serve as a focal point for discussions about equality, privacy, and the rule of law in Missouri and beyond. Credit: US News 2024-08-05 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

Donald Trump’s return to the White House would be a "once-in-a-thousand-year opportunity" for North Korea, according to Ri Il Kyu, the highest-ranking defector to escape the country since 2016. Ri, a former diplomat who fled North Korea with his family last November, shared his unique insights in an interview. Having met Kim Jong Un on seven occasions, Ri described the leader as often smiling and in a good mood, praising people frequently. Despite this outward demeanor, Ri asserted that Kim would do anything to guarantee his survival, even if it meant the death of all 25 million North Koreans. "He could have been a wonderful person and father, but turning him into a god has made him a monstrous being," Ri explained. North Korea views Trump as a negotiable partner in discussions about its nuclear weapons program, despite the breakdown of talks in 2019. Trump has often highlighted his relationship with Kim as a key achievement, famously saying they "fell in love" through letter exchanges. Just last month, Trump told a rally that Kim would like to see him back in office, adding, "I think he misses me, if you want to know the truth." Contradicting Pyongyang’s official stance that it "did not care" who became president, Ri suggested North Korea hopes to leverage Trump's personal relationship with Kim. According to Ri, North Korea would likely seek a deal to freeze its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of US sanctions, though he warned that any such agreement would be deceptive and dangerous, merely strengthening North Korea. Ri’s defection was driven by years of frustration with the corruption and lack of freedom in North Korea. His breaking point came when he was denied permission to travel to Mexico for a necessary medical operation. Despite living a life of relative privilege, he found his situation worse than that of a middle-class family in South Korea. His monthly salary as a diplomat in Cuba was just $500, which he supplemented by selling Cuban cigars illegally in China. The decision to defect was a "life-or-death gamble," Ri said, noting that while regular North Koreans caught defecting are typically tortured and then released, elites face either life in a political prison camp or execution by firing squad. Ri's wife was initially so disturbed by his plan that she ended up in the hospital, and he only informed her and their child six hours before their plane departed. Since arriving in South Korea, Ri has been under the protection of a police bodyguard and intelligence agents. Reflecting on North Korea’s current geopolitical maneuvers, he remarked that the Ukraine war has been beneficial for Pyongyang. The US and South Korea estimate that North Korea has sold millions of rounds of ammunition to Russia in exchange for food, fuel, and possibly military technology, allowing North Korea to continue developing its nuclear weapons despite international sanctions. However, Ri noted that Kim Jong Un understands this relationship with Russia is temporary and expects it to end post-war. Thus, Kim has not abandoned the idea of normalizing relations with the US, which Ri believes North Korea sees as essential for its survival and economic development. The complete closure of North Korea’s borders during the pandemic severely devastated the country’s economy, and even now, families back home are asking diplomats to bring basic necessities. Ri stressed that loyalty to Kim Jong Un is no longer genuine but forced, driven by fear rather than devotion. "There is no genuine loyalty to the regime or to Kim Jong Un anymore," he said, adding that the hardships have eroded any real allegiance, leaving people with no expectations from their "Supreme Leader." Ri’s revelations paint a complex picture of North Korea’s internal and external strategies, highlighting the potential impact of a Trump presidency on the future of US-North Korea relations. Credit: BBC 2024-08-05 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

In her first interview since announcing her leadership bid, former Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch has opened up about the challenges she has faced and her vision for the future of the Conservative Party. Badenoch, a front-runner in the race to succeed Rishi Sunak, has been the subject of numerous accusations from anonymous civil servants, claiming she exhibited bullying behavior and misused public funds during her 17-month tenure at the Department for Business and Trade. These allegations surfaced immediately after she declared her candidacy, leading Badenoch to believe they are part of a concerted effort to undermine her bid for leadership. Badenoch, who has been an MP for Saffron Walden since 2017, has built a reputation for her outspoken views and refusal to shy away from controversy. She attributes the negative media coverage, particularly from The Guardian, to her differing worldview and threat to the status quo. She firmly denies the allegations and criticizes the partisan nature of the journalism, stating, "The paper running these stories – The Guardian – has written nasty article after nasty article about me from the minute I was elected. That’s because I don’t share their world view and the idea that I might become a party leader threatens them." Badenoch's tenure in politics has been marked by her forthrightness on various issues, including race and gender. She has been vocal in her belief that the UK is not a racist country and has pushed back against trans self-identification, advocating for female-only spaces and sports. Her straight-talking approach has garnered both admiration and criticism. Despite the controversy, she remains the favorite among Conservative party members, who will ultimately decide the next leader from the final two candidates put forward by the party’s MPs. The Conservative Party, having seen its number of MPs drastically reduced from 365 under Boris Johnson to 121, faces a critical period of introspection and rebuilding. Badenoch’s supporters view her as a necessary antidote to an era of bland politicians and the perceived abandonment of true Conservatism under Sunak. They believe her straightforward approach is what the party needs to address pressing issues and restore its core values. In contrast, her detractors see her as accident-prone and unpredictable, potentially divisive at a time when unity is essential. Badenoch argues that plain-speaking is crucial in high office, criticizing the tendency of politicians to avoid upsetting the cultural establishment. She recalls her time as Equalities Minister, where she faced resistance from civil servants when she wanted to meet Keira Bell, a young woman who had undergone controversial gender transition treatments. Despite opposition, Badenoch pursued the meeting, which she says fundamentally changed her perspective on the issue. She criticizes the culture of silence within politics and emphasizes the importance of addressing problems head-on. Born in London in 1980, Olukemi Adegoke spent her childhood in Nigeria before returning to the UK at 16. She pursued a master's degree in engineering and later a second degree in law, moving into banking and consultancy. Badenoch joined the Conservative Party in 2005 and has steadily risen through the ranks, becoming an MP in 2017. Married with three children, she balances her time between her homes in South London and her constituency, now renamed North-West Essex. Badenoch faces competition from Tom Tugendhat and James Cleverly, representing the centrist faction of the party, and Robert Jenrick from the Right, who resigned over disagreements on immigration policy. Badenoch criticizes the party's recent legislative focus, arguing that it has strayed from addressing substantial issues. She calls for a more focused approach, particularly on immigration, emphasizing the need for training the domestic workforce over relying on immigration. On the controversial topic of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), Badenoch expresses openness to leaving as a last resort but stresses that other countries within the ECHR do not face the same immigration challenges as the UK. She recounts her refusal to sign a free trade agreement with India due to concerns over migration and criticizes the short-term fix of relying on immigration for business and health sector needs. Badenoch's stance on race relations is also highlighted. She supports the Sewell report, which concluded that the UK is not institutionally racist but calls for honesty about racial tensions and the need for a clearer strategy on integration. She criticizes the silence around recent racially-aggravated violence and emphasizes the importance of addressing such issues transparently. Despite facing personal attacks and accusations, Badenoch remains steadfast in her commitment to her principles. She is critical of the anonymous briefings against ministers and stresses the need for politicians to make difficult decisions and speak the truth. Badenoch's leadership bid represents a battle over the Conservative Party's direction, with her supporters advocating for a bolder, more transparent approach. As the Conservative Party navigates this pivotal moment, Badenoch's determination to confront tough issues and her vision for a revitalized party will be tested. Her campaign's success will depend on whether MPs and party members are willing to embrace her straightforward, sometimes divisive, approach in favor of a return to core Conservative values and a commitment to addressing the country's pressing challenges head-on. Credit: Daily Telegraph 2024-08-05 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

In the lead-up to the presidential election, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are locked in a heated disagreement over the arrangements for their first head-to-head debate. Each candidate prefers a different broadcaster and date, intensifying the tension between their campaigns. The Harris campaign is pushing for a debate on ABC News on September 10, a slot originally scheduled for a debate between President Joe Biden and Trump. However, Trump contends that the ABC debate has been "terminated" following Biden's withdrawal from the race and is advocating for a debate on Fox News on September 4. With the presidential election scheduled for November 5, this debate has become a focal point for both campaigns. The disagreement arose after President Biden exited the race on July 21, making Harris the favorite to secure the Democratic nomination. Since then, Trump has been non-committal about whether he will participate in the previously scheduled ABC News debate. In response, US television networks have been negotiating with both campaigns to arrange new dates. On Friday night, Trump announced on his social network, Truth Social, that he had accepted Fox News' proposal for a debate on September 4, set to take place in Pennsylvania, a key battleground state. Trump stated that the moderators would be Fox News' Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, and that the debate rules would be similar to those used in his debate with Biden. He added that if Harris is unwilling or unable to debate on that date, he has agreed with Fox to hold a major Town Hall event on the same evening. Trump explained that the prior agreement has been terminated because Biden is no longer participating and due to a conflict of interest stemming from his defamation case against the broadcaster. The Harris campaign responded by accusing Trump of "running scared" and attempting to back out of the agreed debate. They criticized him for turning to Fox News, a conservative network, to "bail him out." Michael Tyler, Harris Campaign communications director, urged Trump to stop playing games and honor his commitment to the September 10 debate. Harris echoed this sentiment on social media, pointing out the inconsistency in Trump's stance, noting how "any time, any place" had shifted to "one specific time, one specific safe space." She affirmed her intention to be present on September 10, as initially agreed. Harris' team stated that they are open to discussing additional debates, but only after the agreed one takes place. The potential debate is eagerly anticipated as it offers a crucial opportunity to see how the two contenders compare. Harris secured enough pledges to become the Democratic nominee on Friday. During a campaign rally in Atlanta on Wednesday, she directly challenged Trump to a debate, asserting, "if you got something to say, say it to my face." This debate controversy unfolds against the backdrop of a recent Homeland Security Department report that highlights significant errors made by the US Secret Service during the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. The report revealed that Harris, then vice president-elect, came within 20 feet of a "viable" pipe bomb placed outside the Democratic National Committee's headquarters. Similar bombs were found at the Republican National Committee headquarters, but the individuals responsible for planting them remain unidentified. Credit: BBC 2024-08-05 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

In a stern rebuke to environmental activists, Judge Shane Collery KC condemned the actions of five Just Stop Oil protesters during a sentencing hearing at Basildon Crown Court. The protestors, involved in a disruptive demonstration on the M25 motorway, faced severe criticism for causing widespread disruption to the public. "It's easy to be blasé and dismissive when it's not your life that's being disrupted," Judge Collery told the defendants, emphasizing that their actions were disproportionate to their aims. He pointed out that their protest on November 9, 2022, aimed to create mass disruption to draw media attention to the Just Stop Oil cause. However, he noted that an accident occurred near one of the protest sites, remarking that it was "fortunate more accidents did not occur." The defendants, comprising students, recent graduates, and retirees, were described by Judge Collery as intelligent individuals who should understand the consequences of their actions. He criticized the protest as "a curious way of seeking to influence public opinion" and suggested that there was an element of excitement in the day's action. While he acknowledged that the defendants were not the organizers, he labeled them "willing volunteers" and accepted that their conscientious motives were a relevant consideration. However, he maintained that their actions were still disproportionate. All defendants had pleaded guilty to causing a public nuisance at an earlier hearing. George Simonson, 24, of Leeds, and Theresa Higginson, 26, of Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, were both sentenced to two years in prison. Simonson smiled and waved to the public gallery as he was led away, while Higginson shouted about her vegan diet, which she claimed did not make her ill. Paul Bell, 24, of Exeter, received a sentence of one year and ten months, waving and blowing kisses as he was taken to the cells. Gaie Delap, 77, of Bristol, and Paul Sousek, 73, of Bude in Cornwall, were each sentenced to one year and eight months. The judge told Delap, "Age, I regret, has not brought wisdom." Sousek, who tried to read from a document before being escorted away, said, "Thank you very much." A sixth defendant, Daniel Johnson, 25, of Perth and Kinross in Scotland, was spared jail. The judge accepted Johnson's expression of remorse as genuine, describing him as the "only defendant with a realistic prospect of rehabilitation." Johnson was sentenced to 21 months in prison, suspended for 24 months, and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and pay £750 in costs. The judge ordered the confiscation of the activists' climbing equipment, locks, and banners. Gasps were heard at the start of the sentencing when the judge announced that all but Johnson would receive immediate terms of imprisonment. A second count of causing a public nuisance against all six defendants was ordered to lie on the file. Francesca Cociani, representing Delap, Bell, Johnson, and Higginson, criticized the decision to imprison peaceful protesters as a grave injustice. "Peaceful protest is a fundamental right and a vital tool for enacting positive societal change," Cociani stated. She noted that increasingly lengthy prison terms for such individuals were previously unseen and sent a disturbing message in a liberal democracy. Cociani indicated that they were exploring options, including the possibility of an appeal, to challenge the decision and defend the fundamental right to peaceful protest. Credit: Daily Telegraph 2024-08-05 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

In a significant move to bolster national security, the Senate Appropriations Committee recently approved a defense bill that adds an additional $21 billion to the defense budget. This decision aligns with requests for increased investment in national security but pushes back against a previously established spending cap agreed upon by House Republicans and the Biden administration last year. The new Senate bill includes $852.2 billion for the Department of Defense, surpassing the $833 billion allocated by House appropriators in June. The House version adhered to a modest 1 percent increase from the previous fiscal year, in line with an agreement between President Biden and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in 2023 to reduce spending in exchange for raising the debt ceiling. The Senate's version marks a more than 3 percent increase from the last fiscal year. Notably, the additional $21 billion is classified as an emergency expense, allowing it to bypass the constraints of the Biden-McCarthy agreement. The defense funding bill now heads to the Senate floor for full chamber consideration. The full Senate is also yet to vote on its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which outlines the priorities for the allocated funds. In June, the House passed its NDAA, which includes several culture war amendments. Senator Patty Murray, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, underscored the importance of the new investments in the funding bill, stating that it "builds on our efforts in the National Security Supplemental to strengthen our defenses in key regions, deter conflict, promote stability, and ultimately, keep our nation safe." She added, "With new investments to ensure our military remains the best in the world while supporting our servicemembers and standing with our allies." Senator Jon Tester, chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, echoed Murray's sentiments, emphasizing that the defense funding bill aims to bolster U.S. strength. "This strong, bipartisan budget will accelerate investments to allow our military to stay ahead of the threat of China, provide certainty for our servicemembers," he said in a statement. However, it remains uncertain whether far-right Republicans in the House, who have historically opposed increases in spending, will accept the emergency funds for defense. The committee's decision comes on the heels of Senator Roger Wicker's call in May for a "generational" investment in national defense, proposing an additional $55 billion for fiscal 2025 and aiming for 5 percent of gross domestic product to be allocated to the defense budget over the next five to seven years. Wicker and other lawmakers from both parties have expressed growing concerns about global security, citing Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, Israel's conflicts with Iranian-backed groups in the Middle East, and China's threats in the Indo-Pacific region. The Senate's funding bill includes $500 million for the Indo-Pacific security fund to counter China, along with $37 billion to construct seven battleships as the U.S. seeks to match the size of the Chinese Navy. Additionally, the bill allocates around $4 billion for force protection and operations in Europe and over $17 billion for Middle East operations, slightly increasing the Biden administration's March budget request. It also funds several key weapon programs, including the Sentinel nuclear missile replacement, the B-21 Raider nuclear bomber, hypersonic weapons research, and the acquisition of Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters. As the defense funding bill advances, it reflects a robust commitment to enhancing U.S. military capabilities in the face of evolving global threats. The increased investment underscores the importance of maintaining a strong defense posture, ensuring that the U.S. military remains well-equipped to address current and future challenges. The debate over the additional funds and the broader defense budget will continue to unfold, highlighting the complex balance between fiscal responsibility and national security imperatives. Credit: Hill 2024-08-05 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

The origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, which began in Wuhan, China in late 2019, are well established. However, how it began remains a heated topic of debate. Two competing hypotheses—one of which is hindering scientific progress and potentially obstructing the development of vaccines and other antiviral agents in the U.S.—are at the forefront of this controversy. The zoonosis hypothesis suggests that SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for Covid-19, was naturally transmitted from an animal to one or more humans at a wet market in Wuhan, which sells fresh produce, meat, fish, and live animals. On the other hand, the lab leak hypothesis proposes that the virus was either modified (possibly through gain-of-function experiments) or even created at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) and somehow escaped the laboratory. While many politicians, pundits, and members of the general public favor the lab leak theory, most scientists, particularly virologists, do not. This schism threatens their legitimate and socially important work, as outlined in a peer-reviewed publication from August 1 in the Journal of Virology, written by 41 virologists, myself included. The zoonosis hypothesis is supported by solid evidence. Viruses often spill over from animals to humans, usually as dead-end events without sustained human-to-human transmission that could spark a pandemic. Wildlife coronaviruses have long been capable of infecting humans. An estimated 66,000 people are infected with SARS coronaviruses each year through human-bat contact, almost all resulting in asymptomatic infections with little or no further transmission. That said, zoonotic transfer of three different coronaviruses (MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-1, and SARS-CoV-2) from other animals to humans has led to epidemics or pandemics in the past 25 years. The 2002-2003 SARS-CoV-1 outbreak started in a Chinese wet market, and the 1918 influenza pandemic, which originated from an animal-human crossover, most likely from a pig in the U.S. heartland, killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide. The illegal wildlife trade and wet markets constitute a $20 billion global industry with clear zoonosis risks. The closer humans and “exotic” animals mingle, the greater the risk of viral transmission. There is potential for a devastating pandemic if the H5N1 avian influenza virus enters birds, cattle, and sporadically, humans in the U.S. In contrast, the lab leak hypothesis is essentially evidence-free, relying on a chain of unproven and highly speculative events. A recent New York Times guest essay by Alina Chan, a molecular biologist at the Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard, reiterates arguments first made between 2020 and 2022 but presents no new evidence. Both online and scientific literature support the zoonotic transfer hypothesis while countering the notion of a lab leak. Five out of seven reports from the U.S. intelligence community favor the zoonotic origin of SARS-CoV-2, based on declassified scientific evidence and investigations. These five reports found no evidence that the Wuhan Institute of Virology possessed SARS-CoV-2 or a closely related virus before the end of December 2019 and concluded that it is unlikely that SARS-CoV-2 was engineered. Yet, the lab leak hypothesis is now dominating public discourse. It is being promoted by right-wing politicians and media celebrities and even embraced by high-profile newspapers like The New York Times. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, has accepted the lab leak as an established fact, dismissing the zoonosis hypothesis on dubious grounds. This is significant as their report outlines future government policies on relations with China. Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), testified in June 2024 before the House of Representatives subcommittee investigating the Covid-19 pandemic. He stated that people should keep an open mind on the competing hypotheses, pending definitive proof for one or the other. Despite his balanced stance, Fauci faced vicious abuse, with some even suggesting that he should be “prosecuted” and imprisoned for “crimes against humanity” because NIAID had sent grant funds for coronavirus research to the Wuhan Institute of Virology via an EcoHealth Alliance subcontract. My concern, shared by many other virologists, is that the evidence-light lab leak hypothesis is damaging the virology research community at a time when its role is crucial in the face of pandemic threats. The attacks on Fauci are not unique. Coronavirus virologists have been falsely accused of engineering SARS-CoV-2, allowing it to escape from a lab due to inadequate safety protocols, participating in an international cover-up, and taking grants as bribes from NIAID for favoring the zoonosis hypothesis. There is mounting harassment, intimidation, threats, and violence towards scientists, particularly vile in the online space. In a survey conducted by Science magazine, 38% of 510 researchers publishing coronavirus research reported receiving insults, threats of violence, doxing (publicly revealing personal information), and even face-to-face threats. Another survey of 1,281 scientists found that 51% had experienced at least one form of harassment, sometimes repeatedly for years. As a result, scientists have withdrawn from social media platforms, rejected public speaking opportunities, and taken steps to protect themselves and their families. Some have even diverted their work to less controversial topics. There are now long-term risks that fewer experts will help combat future pandemics and that scientists will be less willing to communicate the findings of sophisticated, fast-moving research on global health topics. Pandemic preparation research has already been deferred, diverted, or abandoned. Most worrisome is that the next generation of scientists has well-founded fears about becoming researchers on emerging viruses and pandemic science. All virologists embrace the need for laboratory safety. None ignore the implications of the lab leak hypothesis—that a dangerous virus could escape from a research laboratory in the future. However, lab leak anxiety underpins proposals for policies that would unnecessarily restrict research on vaccines and antiviral agents in the U.S. The overarching concern is that the lab leak narrative fuels mistrust in science and public health infrastructures. The increasingly virulent and widespread anti-science agenda damages individual scientists and their institutions and hinders planning to counter future epidemics and pandemics. Science is humanity’s best insurance policy against threats from nature, but it is a fragile enterprise that must be nourished and protected. Scientific organizations need to develop programs to counter anti-science and protect the research enterprise in the face of mounting hostility. The rhetoric being thrown at virologists must be toned down. Viruses are the real threats to humanity, not virologists. John P. Moore, Ph.D., is a professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. This essay is adapted from a longer article written with 40 colleagues that was published in the Journal of Virology. Credit: Stat News 2024-08-05 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy praised his country's military for successfully targeting and striking several military sites within Russia. This announcement comes after reports from the Ukrainian army detailing several hits, including an airfield and an oil depot. In his daily statement, Zelenskiy expressed his gratitude towards the soldiers and defense industry personnel responsible for these precise strikes. "I would like to thank each of our soldiers and all those who work in our defence industry for striking Russian airfields, oil refineries, and logistics," he said. The president emphasized that these strikes are a direct response to the bombardments Ukraine has endured since the Russian invasion over two years ago. Zelenskiy highlighted the strategic importance of these attacks, stating, "Every strike that accurately responds to Russia’s bombs, that destroys Russian logistics, Russian bases, that makes it more difficult for the occupier to stay on our land. Every such strike brings the just end of the war closer." Earlier, a source within the Ukrainian defense sector informed AFP that Ukrainian drones had successfully hit the Morozovsk airfield in the Rostov region, resulting in the destruction of an ammunition depot. Although Russian officials did not confirm the destruction of the airfield, Vasily Golubev, the local governor, announced on Telegram that a state of emergency had been declared in the Morozovsk district. Additionally, the Ukrainian defense source reported that a fuel warehouse in the Kamensky district of the Rostov region was struck, with Russian officials acknowledging a drone attack that caused fires in oil tanks. The Ukrainian armed forces also claimed to have sunk the B-237 Rostov-on-Don submarine in occupied Crimea the day before and destroyed four missile launchers. Throughout the war, Kyiv has increasingly taken responsibility for strikes on Russian-held territories. Zelenskiy has been persistent in his calls for allies to lift restrictions, allowing Ukraine to utilize Western weapons against targets within Russian-controlled areas. He reiterated this stance, urging for permission to target sites "where the occupier is, from which Russia strikes at Ukraine, launches missiles, Shahed drones, bombs." The escalation in Ukrainian attacks on Russian military infrastructure marks a significant shift in the conflict dynamics, showcasing Ukraine's growing capability and resolve to retaliate against Russian aggression. These developments could potentially lead to further international discussions about the provision and use of advanced military aid to Ukraine, as well as the broader implications for the ongoing conflict. Credit: The Guardian 2024-08-05 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

A critical system of Atlantic Ocean currents, which significantly influences global weather patterns, could face collapse as soon as the late 2030s, according to a new study. This potential planetary-scale disaster would dramatically alter weather and climate worldwide. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a crucial component of this system, has shown signs of weakening due to rising ocean temperatures and changes in salinity caused by human-induced climate change. Recent research, which has been peer-reviewed but not yet published in a journal, utilizes a state-of-the-art model to predict the timing of a potential AMOC collapse. The study estimates that the collapse could occur between 2037 and 2064, with a likelihood of it happening before 2050. René van Westen, a marine and atmospheric researcher at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands and a co-author of the study, expressed deep concern: "This is really worrying. All the negative side effects of anthropogenic climate change, they will still continue to go on, like more heat waves, more droughts, more flooding. Then if you also have on top of that an AMOC collapse … the climate will become even more distorted." The AMOC functions like a conveyor belt, transporting warm surface water from the southern hemisphere and the tropics to the cold North Atlantic, where the water cools, becomes saltier, sinks, and flows southward. This mechanism plays a crucial role in preventing the overheating of parts of the Southern Hemisphere and the extreme cooling of parts of the Northern Hemisphere. It also distributes nutrients vital for marine ecosystems. The collapse of the AMOC would have profound effects, leaving parts of the world unrecognizable. Within decades, Arctic ice would advance southward, eventually reaching the southern coast of England after a century. Average temperatures in Europe and parts of North America, including regions of the United States, would plummet. The Amazon rainforest would experience a complete reversal of its seasonal patterns, with the current dry season becoming the rainy months and vice versa. Stefan Rahmstorf, a physical oceanographer at Potsdam University in Germany who was not involved in the latest research, emphasized the gravity of the situation: "An AMOC collapse is a really big danger that we should do everything we can to avoid." The Utrecht scientists' conclusions are based on advanced models and observational data from a newly identified optimal monitoring area in the South Atlantic Ocean. By analyzing temperatures and ocean salinity in this region, they aimed to refine previous predictions about when the AMOC might reach its tipping point. Rahmstorf noted the significant advancements in understanding the AMOC's weakening: "Until a few years ago, we were discussing whether it would happen at all, as a kind of low-probability, high-impact risk. And now it looks a lot more likely than just a few years ago that this will happen. Now people are starting to close in on when it will happen." Five years ago, Rahmstorf considered an AMOC collapse this century to be unlikely, but even a 10% risk was seen as unacceptably high given the catastrophic potential impact. "There’s now five papers, basically, that suggested it could well happen in this century, or even before the middle of the century. My overall assessment is now that the risk of us passing the tipping point in this century is probably even greater than 50%." Despite rapid advancements in AMOC research and the development of predictive models, challenges remain. Current models do not fully account for the effects of melting Greenland ice, which introduces massive amounts of fresh water into the North Atlantic, disrupting the salinity-driven circulation. Rahmstorf highlighted this critical gap: "You’re already getting a huge influx of fresh water into the northern Atlantic, which is going to completely disrupt the system." This omission suggests that predictions might underestimate the speed or imminence of a potential collapse. In summary, the new research underscores a dire warning about the future of the AMOC and its critical role in maintaining global climate stability. The potential collapse of this vital system, exacerbated by ongoing climate change and melting polar ice, presents a significant risk that demands urgent attention and action to mitigate its impact and prevent further environmental degradation. Credit: CNN 2024-08-05 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

More than 90 individuals have been arrested following violent far-right demonstrations in various towns and cities across the UK on Saturday. The demonstrations, which took place in locations including Hull, Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, Blackpool, and Belfast, saw bottles thrown, shops looted, and police officers attacked. However, not all the protests turned violent. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged the government's full support to police forces in taking action against extremists attempting to sow hate. Tensions have been particularly high following the tragic killing of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party in Southport, Merseyside, earlier in the week. In Liverpool, violence erupted as bricks, bottles, and a flare were thrown at police officers. One officer was hit in the head with a chair, while another was kicked and knocked off his motorbike. Anti-fascist demonstrators gathered across from Liverpool’s Lime Street station at lunchtime, calling for unity and tolerance with chants of “refugees are welcome here” and “Nazi scum, off our streets.” They marched to the city's riverside to confront around one thousand anti-immigration protestors, some of whom were shouting Islamophobic slurs. Police in riot gear struggled to keep the two sides apart, with reinforcements called in to maintain order. The unrest continued into the early hours of Sunday morning, with fireworks launched towards police officers in riot gear. Merseyside Police confirmed a number of officers had been injured, describing the events as "serious disorder." Two officers were taken to hospital, one with a suspected broken nose and another with a suspected broken jaw. The force reported 23 arrests. Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Simms condemned the violence, stating, "The disorder, violence and destruction has no place here in Merseyside, least of all after the tragic events that took place in Southport on Monday." She added, "Those who engaged in this behaviour bring nothing but shame to themselves and this city." At a government meeting earlier on Saturday, a spokesperson for Starmer emphasized the distinction between the right to freedom of expression and the violent disorder seen over the weekend. He reiterated that there is no excuse for violence and that the government backs the police in taking all necessary action to keep the streets safe. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper warned that anyone engaging in "unacceptable disorder" would face imprisonment and travel bans, among other punishments. She assured that "sufficient" prison places had been made available. "Criminal violence and disorder have no place on Britain's streets," Cooper stated. She added that the police have the government's full backing in taking action against those engaging in "thuggery." In Bristol, protesters and counter-protesters faced a standoff. One group could be heard singing "Rule Britannia," "England 'til I die," and "we want our country back," while the opposing side chanted "refugees are welcome here." Beer cans were thrown at the anti-racism group, and some of the rival protesters were baton-charged by officers. Avon and Somerset Police reported 14 arrests and anticipated further arrests in the coming days. In Manchester, scuffles with police led to at least two arrests. In Belfast, two people were arrested as protesters outside a mosque threw objects at the media and earlier smashed windows in a cafe. In Hull, protesters smashed a window at a hotel housing asylum seekers, and bottles and eggs were thrown at police. City Hall was placed on lockdown as the British Chess Championships took place inside. Humberside Police reported three injured officers and 20 arrests after disorder in the city center saw shops ransacked and items set on fire. In Blackpool, protesters clashed with punks attending the Rebellion Festival, with bottles and chairs thrown. Lancashire Police reported over 20 arrests, with minor disruption also occurring in Blackburn and Preston. In Stoke-on-Trent, bricks were thrown at officers. Staffordshire Police clarified that two men, initially reported to have been stabbed, had been hit by thrown objects and were not seriously injured. The force reported 10 arrests and three officers with minor injuries. Elsewhere, Leicestershire Police made two arrests in Leicester city center, while West Yorkshire Police made one arrest on the Headrow in Leeds. Not all demonstrations descended into violence, and in some places, protesters dispersed by the evening. Saturday's protests followed a night of violence in Sunderland on Friday, which saw four police officers hospitalized and 10 people arrested. Hundreds of people rioted, throwing beer cans and bricks at riot police outside a mosque, and a Citizens Advice office was torched. Twelve people have been arrested in connection with the violence. The BBC has identified at least 30 demonstrations being planned by far-right activists around the UK over the weekend, including a new protest in Southport. An extra 70 prosecutors are on standby to charge those arrested in connection with the violent disorder. Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly called on Starmer and the Home Secretary to "do more" to restore public order and "send a clear message to the thugs." Earlier this week, the prime minister announced a new national violent disorder program to help clamp down on violent groups by allowing police forces to share intelligence. The 2011 London riots prepared Starmer for stopping unrest, but tackling the deeper roots of the protests will be much harder. When asked if he feared a "summer of riots," Starmer dodged the question, focusing instead on recent specific events. Following the protests which flared in Southport, London, Leeds, and elsewhere after the killing of the three girls, Starmer warned that he is dealing with "a group of individuals who are absolutely hell-bent on violence." He decided to "pull together senior police officers" to ensure a robust response to the violence, not just in the coming days but continually. An effective response to rioting requires appropriate powers for the police and swift justice for offenders. In the longer term, however, there are two more complex tasks: countering external forces, such as the internet, which may facilitate trouble-making, and responding to the grievances of those causing the mayhem. Starmer insists that only "a tiny mindless minority" and "gang of thugs" are behind the violence following the Southport stabbings. However, he acknowledges that the slogan "enough is enough" about immigration resonates with peaceful protesters and violent individuals alike, including swing voters who supported Labour for the first time this year. At last Monday's cabinet meeting, Cooper and Pat McFadden, a senior government member, emphasized the need to urgently address concerns about immigration, particularly reducing small boat crossings. Balancing this with maintaining support from Labour's traditional base will be more challenging than delivering swift justice for violent protesters. The stabbings are not the only reason behind the summer's disturbances. In Leeds last month, violent incidents erupted following social worker intervention with a family. Other potential flashpoints have included peaceful demonstrations on widely supported issues, such as Black Lives Matter and calls for a Gaza ceasefire. Political leaders must respond constructively to these motivations, though not necessarily agree with them. Police chiefs maintain that the justification for mob violence should not affect how they deal with it. Until the weather breaks, Starmer's best hope is that people in troubled areas remain cool, calm, collected, and off the streets. Credit: BBC | Sky News 2024-08-03 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

///TOPIC CLOSED/// Continuation in new topic published: Israel Hamas War the Widening Middle East Conflict https://aseannow.com/topic/1334581-israel-hamas-war-the-widening-middle-east-conflict/

Israel Hamas War the Widening Middle East Conflict Latest developments and discussion of events in the Israel-Hamas War and the wider Middle East Conflict. Any alleged factual claims must be supported by a valid link to an approved credible source. All video content must be from a credible media source, and in English. Foreign languages, even with subtitles, are not permitted. Anyone found to be deliberately diverting or derailing discussion with off topic rants could have their posting ability removed. No name calling or inflammatory terms will be tolerated. This is a continuation of the previous three topics and can be used for general daily updates and discussion. This is not a topic for historical events. Continuation from: https://aseannow.com/topic/1321758-israel-is-at-war-general-discussion-pt3/

A personal attack and a baiting troll post from the same poster have been removed.

A judge has upheld the anonymity of two 12-year-old boys found guilty of the brutal murder of Shawn Seesahai in Wolverhampton. The court rejected a media application to name the young convicts, emphasizing that their welfare outweighed the principles of public interest and open justice. The case has drawn significant attention due to the shocking nature of the crime and the tender age of the perpetrators, who are among the youngest defendants convicted of murder in Britain since the notorious case of Robert Thompson and Jon Venables in 1993. The tragic incident occurred on November 13th of the previous year, in the Stowlawn playing fields of Wolverhampton. Nineteen-year-old Shawn Seesahai was fatally attacked, sustaining a machete wound to the heart and a skull fracture. The court heard that the attack lasted scarcely more than a minute, yet resulted in devastating injuries. One of the boys used a machete to inflict severe wounds on Seesahai’s legs and heart, while the other punched and stamped on his head. Seesahai's injuries were catastrophic: his back and legs were slashed, his skull was fractured, and a 23cm-deep machete wound pierced through his right lung and heart, nearly exiting his chest. Four media organizations—PA news agency, ITN, NewsCorp, and Associated Newspapers—argued that the anonymity granted to the defendants under the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act should be lifted. They cited significant public interest and the need for open justice. Jude Bunting KC, representing three of the media organizations, contended that the murder fell into a category of high public interest, involving the prevalent issue of knife crime. He asserted that naming the boys would enable the media to investigate potential institutional failures and better inform public debate. However, Mrs. Justice Tipples, presiding over the case at Nottingham Crown Court, rejected the application. She accepted the evidence contained in pre-sentence reports and from social workers, which indicated that naming the boys would have a severely detrimental impact on their welfare. One of the defendants, still aged 12, was described as vulnerable with extremely complex needs, and identifying him was said to have an extremely detrimental impact on his mental health. The other boy, who turned 13 after the conviction, was similarly at risk of negative attention within the custodial setting if his identity were disclosed. In her ruling, Mrs. Justice Tipples acknowledged the shocking nature of the killing, given the very young age of the defendants. However, she emphasized that the welfare of the youths, who both face mandatory life sentences, outweighed the broader public interest and principles of open justice. The judge noted that the evidence from social workers and pre-sentence reports was compelling, demonstrating that naming the boys would significantly harm their mental health and safety. Defense counsel Rachel Brand KC and Paul Lewis KC opposed the media application, underscoring the importance of prioritizing the boys' welfare over public interest. Brand argued that the welfare of the boy who is still 12 should be given heavier consideration than public interest factors. Lewis, representing the boy who has turned 13, urged the court to focus on the specific facts of Seesahai’s killing rather than abstract principles from previous cases. He questioned how naming the two boys would better inform public debate, stating, "There is no evidence that to name two 12-year-olds would provide any deterrent." The victim’s family had expressed the belief that the boys should be named. However, Mrs. Justice Tipples focused on the particular needs of the young defendants and the compelling evidence regarding their welfare. The decision underscores the court's commitment to safeguarding the welfare of young offenders, even in the face of severe public scrutiny and media interest. Following the judgment, Jude Bunting KC acknowledged that an appeal against the ruling in a higher court was unlikely. He had previously submitted that the murder was within a category identified during a previous case as having a high public interest, noting the substantial public concern surrounding knife crime. However, the judge's decision to prioritize the welfare of the young defendants over public interest considerations reflects the nuanced and complex nature of justice in cases involving juvenile offenders. The youths are due to be sentenced in September, with their identities remaining protected to safeguard their welfare as mandated by the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act. The case highlights the ongoing tension between the principles of open justice and the need to protect vulnerable young offenders, raising important questions about how society balances these competing interests. Credit: The Guardian 2024-08-03 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

The number of unlawful crossings by migrants at the US southern border has decreased for the fifth consecutive month, according to official data. In July, US Border Patrol agents apprehended approximately 57,000 migrants along the border, marking the lowest recorded figure since September 2020. This is a significant decline from December, when about 250,000 migrants were caught attempting to cross the border. The Biden administration has attributed this decrease to recent measures taken to combat illegal immigration, a critical issue for Democrats in the election year. "This is the product of a number of actions this administration has taken," stated Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in an interview with CBS this week. Among these actions is an executive order signed by President Joe Biden last month, allowing US immigration officials to deport migrants without processing their asylum claims. This measure has been described as one of the most restrictive border policies enacted by a Democratic president in recent times and has faced criticism from left-wing members of the party. President Biden defended the executive order, asserting that it would "help us gain control of our border" and emphasizing that "doing nothing is not an option." Government data reveals that the number of migrants stopped at the US-Mexico border had already been decreasing prior to the implementation of the executive order. Border Patrol recorded 141,000 apprehensions in February, 137,000 in March, 129,000 in April, 118,000 in May, and 84,000 in June. These figures exclude official border crossings, where the Biden administration has been processing around 1,500 migrants daily through a smartphone app that schedules appointments between migrants and US border agents. Additionally, Mexican officials have been actively working to curb illegal migration by preventing people from attempting to cross into US territory. The issue of the southern border has been a political challenge for the Biden administration, particularly as the November election approaches. President Biden has faced repeated criticism from Republicans and their presidential nominee, Donald Trump, who claimed last month that the president had “surrendered our southern border.” In response, Biden accused the Trump camp of an "extremely cynical political move" by urging Republican politicians to block a proposed border plan in Congress earlier this year. Credit: BBC 2024-08-03 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

In a harrowing discovery, a 50-year-old American woman was found in a dire state, chained to a tree in a forest in India. Lalita Kayi Kumar, emaciated and barely able to communicate, was rescued after a shepherd heard her desperate cries for help in the Sindhudurg district, located approximately 290 miles south of Mumbai. According to Kumar, her husband had tied her to the tree and left her there to die, enduring 40 days without food. When rescuers found Kumar, she was too weak to speak. She managed to write a note for the hospital staff, revealing the grim details of her ordeal. "My husband tied me to a tree in a forest and said I would die there," she wrote. She also mentioned that she had been given an injection for extreme psychosis, which caused severe locked jaw, rendering her unable to drink water. Photographs from the scene showed Kumar in a state of severe malnutrition, covered in dirt, and visibly distressed. The shepherd who discovered Kumar's plight immediately alerted the police, leading to her rescue. The Indian Express reported that local police have registered an attempted murder case against her husband and are currently searching for him. In her note, Kumar referred to her "former husband," which police believe indicates she had already separated from him. Authorities are working on the assumption that her husband, who hails from Tamil Nadu, was responsible for tying her to the tree before fleeing. Kumar, originally from the United States, had been living in India for the past ten years. Police noted that her visa had expired, complicating her situation further. Following her rescue, Kumar was taken to a hospital for advanced treatment. Doctors reported that she appeared to be suffering from psychiatric issues and was extremely weak due to lack of food and the harsh weather conditions in the area. "The woman is weak as she has not eaten anything for a couple of days and also as the area experienced heavy rains," said a Maharashtra police official. The duration for which Kumar had been tied to the tree remains unclear, but her physical state suggested a prolonged period of suffering. The police are now attempting to locate her relatives in India as part of their investigation. Credit: Sky News 2024-08-03 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

Former President Donald Trump has called for more transparency regarding the recent high-profile prisoner swap between the United States and Russia, which resulted in the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan from Russian custody. In a post on Truth Social, Trump highlighted his own track record with prisoner exchanges and raised concerns about the terms of the current deal. Trump questioned the specifics of the exchange, asking, "So when are they going to release the details of the prisoner swap with Russia? How many people do we get versus them? Are we also paying them cash? Are they giving us cash (Please withdraw that question, because I’m sure the answer is NO)?" He further speculated about the nature of those being released, suggesting that the U.S. might be releasing "murderers, killers, or thugs," and criticized the U.S. government for its history of making poor deals, particularly in hostage swaps. The former president expressed concerns about the implications of potentially giving cash to an opposing country, calling it a “bad precedent for the future.” He accused Russia of extorting the United States, referencing the complexity of the trade and suggesting it was designed to obscure the unfavorable terms for the U.S. "They are extorting the United States of America. They’re calling the trade ‘complex’ – That’s so nobody can figure out how bad it is!" Trump wrote. National security adviser Jake Sullivan responded to these claims during a White House briefing, asserting that no money was exchanged and no sanctions were loosened as part of the deal. Sullivan's statement aimed to dispel any rumors or misconceptions about the terms of the prisoner swap. President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that Gershkovich and Whelan, along with Alsu Kurmasheva and Vladimir Kara-Murza, were released as part of the largest prisoner exchange with Russia since the Cold War. The deal also saw the release of five Germans and seven Russian citizens who had been held as political prisoners. This historic exchange underscores the ongoing efforts and complexities involved in diplomatic negotiations between the two nations. Trump, who has often criticized Biden's handling of American detainees in Russia, had previously predicted that Biden would struggle to secure the release of Gershkovich, who had been detained in Russia for more than a year. When asked about Trump’s suggestion that he could have brought the detainees home without making any concessions, Biden retorted, "Why didn’t he do it when he was president?" This exchange highlights the ongoing political tension and debate surrounding the handling of international prisoner swaps, the strategies employed by different administrations, and the broader implications for U.S. foreign policy and national security. Credit: Hill 2024-08-03 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

In a bout that has sparked widespread outrage and debate, a boxer previously barred from women’s events claimed victory after her opponent quit just 46 seconds into the match. The fight, which took place on Thursday at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has drawn criticism from high-profile figures including former President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, J.K. Rowling, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The core of the controversy revolves around Imane Khelif of Algeria, a boxer with a complex gender history, and her opponent, Italy’s Angela Carini. The match ended abruptly when Carini, after sustaining a severe blow to her nose, removed her helmet and conceded defeat. Khelif, who stands tall with bulging biceps, had previously failed two gender verification tests in March 2023, leading to a ban by the International Boxing Association (IBA) from competing against women. This ban was overturned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which allowed Khelif to compete under unspecified criteria. Boxing star Nicola Adams speaks out on gender row. Adams, 41, posted her views on X after Carini withdrew from her fight against Algeria's Imane Khelif just 46 seconds into the bout on Thursday. given her support to Angela Carini after the Italian boxer abandoned a fight against an opponent who previously failed a gender eligibility test. Adams, 41, posted her views on X on Friday after Carini withdrew from her fight against Algeria's Imane Khelif, who is a biological woman, just 46 seconds into the bout on Thursday. The incident has been described by many as unjust and a blatant disregard for the safety and fairness of female athletes. Carini herself expressed her frustration, stating, “I quit to save my life. I couldn’t breathe anymore.” Her coach, Emanuele Renzini, revealed that many had warned her against participating, citing the danger posed by Khelif’s physical advantages. The outrage is not limited to the sporting community. Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss tweeted, "When will this madness stop?" Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies called it "a bloody disgrace," and author J.K. Rowling questioned, "What will it take to end this insanity? A female boxer left with life-altering injuries? A female boxer killed?" Jake Paul, honorary boxing coach for Team USA, labeled the event as "sickening" and "a travesty," emphasizing the inherent danger and unfairness of the situation. Khelif, who identifies as female despite having XY chromosomes, was initially barred by the IBA but was later cleared by the IOC to compete. The details of the criteria met by Khelif remain undisclosed. IOC spokesman Mark Adams defended the decision, stating, "Federations need to make the rules to make sure that there is fairness, but at the same time with the ability for everyone to take part who wants to. That’s a difficult balance." However, many see this balance as skewed and dangerous. Sports science professor Ross Tucker compared the situation to placing a 200-pound fighter against someone weighing 130 pounds, highlighting the significant strength and power differences between male and female boxers. The incident has brought to light the broader issue of how sports organizations handle the participation of athletes with different gender identities. Critics argue that the current approach endangers female athletes and undermines the integrity of women’s sports. The IOC’s decision has been seen by many as prioritizing political correctness over the safety and fairness of competition. Carini’s experience underscores the physical and emotional toll of competing under such conditions. “I’ve never taken a punch like that,” she said, reflecting on the match that left her weeping and disconsolate. Despite her evident distress, Carini refrained from criticizing Khelif’s biological advantages, likely to avoid further controversy. Khelif, on the other hand, showed no remorse, expressing confidence and ambition for future matches. “Difficult for a first fight,” she said. “Insh’Allah [if Allah wills it] for the second fight. I need an Olympic medal here in Paris.” The IOC’s decision to allow Khelif to fight another biological female on Saturday has only intensified the backlash. Critics argue that the organization has failed female athletes by not providing a fair and safe competitive environment. The question now is whether it will take a tragedy, such as a female athlete being seriously injured or killed, for the rules and regulations governing such competitions to be reevaluated and changed. As the debate continues, the broader implications for women’s sports and the rights of female athletes remain a critical issue. The need for clear, fair, and safe guidelines is more pressing than ever, with many calling for an end to what they see as a dangerous and unjust approach to gender and competition in sports. Credit: Daily Mail | NBC 2024-08-03 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

The dissemination of false information about the Southport stabbings is part of Vladimir Putin's "grey warfare" strategy against the West, according to Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of MI6. Russian state media were among the entities that wrongly identified the suspect in the Southport stabbings as an asylum seeker who arrived in the United Kingdom on a small boat. This misinformation played a role in inciting violence in Hartlepool, London, and Southport, resulting in injuries to dozens of police officers in clashes with far-right protesters. Sir Richard Dearlove emphasized that the spread of fake news is a core tactic used by Putin’s regime to destabilize Western nations. He explained to LBC's Nick Ferrari, "What I can tell you is that we’re in a state of grey warfare with Russia – we may not feel that we are, but they certainly think they are. The exploitation of that space is a fundamental tactic in their conflict with the West. So if these bots have been used to stir up through social media a violent response, I’m not the slightest bit surprised. People just don’t seem to understand the extent of the Russian attitude to conflict and the way every aspect of their relationship with us will be seen as a basis to attack us." In March, the Kremlin initiated a disinformation campaign that falsely accused MI6 and other Western intelligence agencies of orchestrating a terror attack in Moscow. This is part of a broader strategy where, according to Sir Richard, Russia perceives itself in an existential conflict with the West. "The Russians think they’re in an existential conflict with us. That’s my view of the international situation. I think we are slightly complacent and I don’t think people necessarily understand the danger that we’re in," he noted. Sir Richard admitted he had not specifically heard of Channel3Now, the fake news website responsible for spreading false information about the Southport attacker. However, he acknowledged it as part of Russia’s broader disinformation operations. "Clearly, it’s one of the sources of this activity out of Russia. I think the people running these [sites] have a pretty open instruction to exploit opportunities as they identify them. They’re not going to get clearance from Putin, but it’s part of the nature of their setup and how they operate … They’re not going to act with restraint." Highlighting the personal impact of such activities, Sir Richard revealed that his own email account had been targeted by Russian hackers, despite him no longer holding an intelligence role. "You can see the extent of the effort they’re prepared to put into these activities. I can’t say I’m a strategically crucial person." Addressing the role of social media in this context, Sir Richard responded to concerns about X, formerly Twitter, under Elon Musk’s ownership, suggesting that Musk's management style reflects a broader ideological split in the United States between proponents of control and advocates of absolute freedom and anarchy. This view aligns with concerns expressed by Lord Mann, the government's independent adviser on anti-Semitism, who urged Sir Keir Starmer to regulate the platform. "The way Twitter is framing its algorithms towards violent extremism requires careful but decisive action from legislators. Online harm is back on the agenda," Lord Mann wrote. The fake news website with connections to Russia has been found to have played a significant role in spreading false information about the Southport stabbings, which led to a series of violent riots throughout the UK. On Monday, a 17-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the killing of three young girls attending a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport. This mass stabbing rampage also resulted in nine others being critically injured. The suspect, named Axel Rudakubana after a judge lifted reporting restrictions, was charged and brought to court. In the immediate aftermath of the killings, a social media account named Channel3 Now, masquerading as an American news network, falsely claimed that the alleged murderer was an asylum seeker named Ali Al-Shakati, who was "on the MI6 watch list" and "known to mental health services." This false information was quickly amplified by Russian state media and far-right influencers Tommy Robinson and Andrew Tate, who claimed the suspect was an "illegal migrant" who had recently entered the country on a small boat. The initial post by Channel3 News was viewed nearly two million times before it was eventually deleted. The site's 'Editor' later posted an AI-generated apology, claiming that the team responsible for the post had been "sacked." However, the damage had already been done. Merseyside Police released a statement clarifying that the name pushed by Channel3 News was "incorrect" and that the suspect was born in Cardiff. Despite this, hundreds of far-right hooligans hijacked a vigil for the victims in Southport, attacking police and chanting "English til I die" before trashing the town center and setting a police van on fire. More than 1,000 people descended on Westminster last night as the rioting intensified. The misinformation spread by Channel3 News played a significant role in amplifying the far-right response. An investigation by the Mail revealed that Channel3 Now, which claims to be based in the US, actually began as a Russian YouTube channel 11 years ago. Its first video, posted in 2013, depicted Russian men rally-driving in the snow in Izhevsk, a city about 750 miles east of Moscow. The drivers in the videos were later found to have connections to Russia’s defense and IT industries, including a man who appears to be a former KGB operative who has since served in Russia’s parliament. Channel3 Now lay inactive for six years before reemerging in 2019, posting a series of scattershot news pieces, including a story about a tiger being beaten to death and a match report from the Manchester City Women’s team. The organization has since rebranded itself multiple times, changing its name to aliases such as "Fox3 News" and "Fox3 Now" to mimic legitimate news organizations. Last June, it set up a website accused of sharing "racially motivated click-bait." Although Channel3 claims to be based in the US, it is registered with an online hosting company in Lithuania and uses privacy features to hide its owner’s identity. The first mention of the Southport suspect’s false name was shared on Twitter by a well-known UK anti-lockdown activist, around five hours after the stabbings took place. Channel3 repeated the claim just two minutes later, and it was then picked up by Russian state broadcaster Russia Today. Although Channel3 deleted the tweet containing the false name, RT kept it on their website, adding an Editor’s Note stating, "The outlet has later retracted the claim." Conservative security advisor Stephen McPartland suggested that Russia could be behind a social media misinformation campaign designed to inflame tensions in the UK. A report by McPartland, which Rishi Sunak pledged to implement but was left on the shelf following the change in government, called for a substantial review of cybersecurity and social media misinformation. He stated, "Disinformation to undermine democracy is a huge part of the Russian playbook and just in May the British government expelled a Russian defense attache and accused the Russian Federal Security Service [FSB] of systemic malign cyberattacks aimed at undermining democracy." "The tragic events in Southport are being mobilized by hostile states to stir up hatred and division instead of letting the community grieve. We need much more cyber-resilience throughout our whole society and economy to defend democracy." Credit: Metro 2024-08-03 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

Virginia Tech scientists have discovered that SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, is prevalent among wildlife species in Virginia. According to research published in Nature Communications, the virus was detected in six common backyard species, with antibodies indicating prior exposure found in five species. The rates of exposure ranged from 40 to 60 percent, depending on the species. The study tracked the virus’s genetic code in wild animals, confirming both the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and unique viral mutations that closely matched variants circulating in humans, supporting the theory of human-to-animal transmission. The highest exposure to SARS-CoV-2 was found in animals near hiking trails and high-traffic public areas, suggesting the virus was passed from humans to wildlife. This research was conducted by scientists from the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, the Department of Biological Sciences in Virginia Tech’s College of Science, and the Fralin Life Sciences Institute. The study’s findings highlight the identification of novel mutations in SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife, underscoring the need for broad surveillance. These mutations could be more harmful and transmissible, posing challenges for vaccine development. However, the scientists emphasized that they found no evidence of the virus being transmitted from animals to humans, assuring the public that typical interactions with wildlife should not be a cause for fear. Investigators tested animals from 23 common Virginia species for active infections and antibodies indicating previous infections. They found signs of the virus in deer mice, Virginia opossums, raccoons, groundhogs, Eastern cottontail rabbits, and Eastern red bats. The virus isolated from one opossum showed previously unreported viral mutations that could potentially impact how the virus affects humans and their immune response. “The virus can jump from humans to wildlife when we are in contact with them, like a hitchhiker switching rides to a new, more suitable host,” explained Carla Finkielstein, a professor of biological sciences at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and one of the paper’s corresponding authors. “The goal of the virus is to spread in order to survive. The virus aims to infect more humans, but vaccinations protect many humans. So the virus turns to animals, adapting and mutating to thrive in the new hosts.” SARS-CoV-2 infections have previously been identified in wildlife, primarily in white-tailed deer and feral mink. The Virginia Tech study significantly expands the number of species examined and the understanding of virus transmission to and among wildlife. The data suggests exposure to the virus has been widespread in wildlife, with areas of high human activity serving as points of contact for cross-species transmission. “This study was really motivated by seeing a large, important gap in our knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a broader wildlife community,” said Joseph Hoyt, assistant professor of biological sciences in Virginia Tech’s College of Science and corresponding author on the paper. “A lot of studies to date have focused on white-tailed deer while what is happening in much of our common backyard wildlife remains unknown.” The research team collected 798 nasal and oral swabs from animals across Virginia, either live-trapped in the field and released or being treated by wildlife rehabilitation centers. They also obtained 126 blood samples from six species. The locations were chosen to compare the presence of the virus in animals in sites with varying levels of human activity, from urban areas to remote wilderness. The study also identified two mice at the same site on the same day with the exact same variant, indicating they either both got it from the same human or one infected the other. Researchers are uncertain about the means of transmission from humans to animals. One possibility is wastewater, but the Virginia Tech scientists believe trash receptacles and discarded food are more likely sources. “I think the big take-home message is the virus is pretty ubiquitous,” said Amanda Goldberg, a former postdoctoral associate in Hoyt’s lab and the study’s first author. “We found positives in a large suite of common backyard animals.” While this study focused on Virginia, many of the species that tested positive are common backyard wildlife found throughout North America. It is likely they are being exposed in other areas as well, and surveillance across a broader region is urgently needed, Hoyt said. “The virus is indifferent to whether its host walks on two legs or four. Its primary objective is survival. Mutations that do not confer a survival or replication advantage to the virus will not persist and will eventually disappear,” said Finkielstein, who is also director of the Virginia Tech Molecular Diagnostics Lab. The Roanoke lab was established in April 2020 to expand COVID-19 testing. “We understood the critical importance of sequencing the genome of the virus infecting those species. It was a monumental task that could only be accomplished by a talented group of molecular biologists, bioinformaticians, and modelers in a state-of-the-art facility. I am proud of my team and my collaborators, their professionalism, and everything they contributed to ensure our success.” Scientists emphasize the need for continued surveillance for these mutations and caution against dismissing them. More research is necessary to understand how the virus is transmitted from humans to wildlife, how it might spread within a species, and potentially from one species to another. “This study highlights the potentially large host range SARS-CoV-2 can have in nature and really how widespread it might be,” Hoyt said. “There is a lot of work to be done to understand which species of wildlife, if any, will be important in the long-term maintenance of SARS-CoV-2 in humans.” Finkielstein added, “But what we’ve already learned is that SARS-CoV-2 is not only a human problem and that it takes a heck of a multidisciplinary team to address its impact on various species and ecosystems effectively.” Other authors on the paper include: - Kate Langwig, associate professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Fralin Life Sciences Institute - James Weger-Lucarelli, assistant professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine - Anne Brown, associate professor, Department of Biochemistry - Amanda Goldberg, former postdoctoral associate, Department of Biological Sciences - Jeffrey Marano, graduate research assistant, Department of Biological Sciences - Pallavi Rai, graduate research assistant, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine - Kelsi King, graduate research assistant, Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology - Amanda Sharp, graduate research assistant, Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology - Christopher Kailing, graduate research assistant, Department of Biological Sciences - Macy Kailing, graduate research assistant, Department of Biological Sciences - Members of the Virginia Tech Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory: Katherine L. Brown, Alessandro Ceci, Russell Briggs, Matthew G. Urbano, Clinton Roby Credit: Virginia Tech 2024-08-03 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

The high-profile case involving former President Donald Trump’s alleged efforts to obstruct the 2020 election results is poised to return to the control of a federal judge in Washington, D.C. This comes after a Supreme Court decision that clarified the extent of presidential immunity from prosecution. The Supreme Court’s ruling on July 1 determined that while presidents possess broad immunity when performing their core constitutional duties, they can still face trial for private conduct or certain official acts that fall outside these duties. This landmark decision, split along ideological lines at 6-3, now charges U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan with the complex task of deciphering which of Trump’s actions related to the 2020 election can be prosecuted. Judge Chutkan’s forthcoming decisions are expected to be intricate and potentially lengthy, making a trial before the November election highly improbable. According to Randall Eliason, a former federal prosecutor and current law professor at George Washington University, the urgency that once surrounded this case has diminished since the Supreme Court’s ruling. He pointed out, “There’s no point in haste now, because there’s no way to do the trial now before the election. If Trump wins in November and returns to the White House in January, his Justice Department would be expected to drop the case, and he could not be prosecuted while in office anyway. If he loses, there will be plenty of time to do a trial next year and get all the issues right.” Barbara McQuade, another former federal prosecutor and now a professor at the University of Michigan, echoed the sentiment that while it is technically possible for Judge Chutkan to hold hearings or a “mini trial” to decide on the admissibility of certain evidence and allegations, the likelihood of such proceedings occurring before the election is slim. “Prosecutors and judges have to be thinking about the case, and not the election,” McQuade stated. “If I’m the prosecutor, I want to go by [written filings] because it is quick and I’m not subjecting witnesses to cross-examination repeatedly over time, which could create problems down the road and can take a very long time.” The Supreme Court’s ruling has set a Friday deadline for the case to be returned to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, which is expected to send it back to Judge Chutkan. She will need to address several key questions: which alleged acts by Trump fall under the executive branch’s exclusive constitutional authority and are thus immune from prosecution, which are official acts but still prosecutable because they pose no danger to presidential powers, and which acts involve private conduct and are prosecutable. Carolyn Shapiro, a professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law, highlighted the challenges Judge Chutkan will face in answering these questions due to the lack of clear guidance from the Supreme Court. She noted that Judge Chutkan will likely seek input from both Trump's defense team and special counsel Jack Smith to determine the next steps. Trump's legal team is expected to continue employing strategies to slow down or dismiss parts of the case, similar to their approach following the Supreme Court’s immunity decision in other legal matters. Special counsel Jack Smith may also adjust his indictment strategy, potentially dropping allegations that are clearly shielded from prosecution while pushing forward with those that are not. The 45-page indictment in D.C. alleges that Trump conspired to overturn the 2020 election results by using false claims of election fraud to obstruct the government’s processes. The indictment outlines five key methods used by Trump: pressuring officials in swing states to flip electoral votes, attempting to submit fraudulent slates of electors, threatening Justice Department leaders to open sham investigations, pressuring Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the election results during Congress’s certification, and exploiting the Capitol riot to disrupt Congress. However, the Supreme Court ruling has directly impacted the indictment by barring prosecution for Trump’s discussions with the Justice Department and hobbling Smith's pursuit based on Trump’s discussions with Pence. Special counsel Smith may argue that Pence was acting as president of the Senate and not as an executive branch adviser, but Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. was silent on whether this argument satisfies the court's test. Smith may continue to argue that Trump’s statements and actions, such as promoting slates of fake electors and pressuring state officials, were made as a candidate and therefore are unofficial acts. However, proving these charges will require careful examination by Judge Chutkan to determine whether Trump was acting in his official capacity or as part of a private scheme. The Supreme Court also limited prosecutors by ruling that a president’s motives cannot be considered when weighing whether conduct is immune and that official acts cannot be used as evidence for prosecuting unofficial acts. This could hinder prosecutors' ability to prove corrupt motive or intent, which is crucial in criminal law. Despite these limitations, there is still a sense of urgency to resolve the case. McQuade emphasized that the public has a right to a speedy trial, and if Trump is not re-elected, the case will eventually go to trial. Prosecutors and the judge have a duty to act with urgency to protect that right. “There is some urgency to the case because the public has a right to a speedy trial just as the defense does,” she said. “And if Donald Trump is not elected president, this case will go to trial eventually, so the prosecution and judge have a duty to protect that right by acting with urgency.” As the case moves forward, it will be crucial to observe how Judge Chutkan navigates the Supreme Court’s directives and balances the need for a thorough examination of the evidence with the public’s right to a timely resolution. The legal and political ramifications of this case are significant, and the outcomes could have lasting impacts on the interpretation of presidential immunity and the accountability of elected officials. Credit: W.P. 2024-08-02 Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.