Social Media

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.

In 1935, archaeologists discovered a mysterious mummy beneath a tomb at Deir Elbahari, near Luxor, the site of ancient Thebes. The body, believed to be that of a woman, was found in a burial chamber beneath the site of Senmut, the architect and overseer of royal works, and reportedly the lover of Queen Hatshepsut, who lived from 1479 to 1458 BCE. When the mummy was unwrapped, her mouth was wide open, giving the eerie appearance of a scream. Initially, this expression was thought to be the result of a sloppy embalming process, suggesting that the woman was not of significant importance. Typically, embalmers would close the jaw and seal it with bandages. However, new research by Cairo University has revealed a different story. The initial examinations indicated that her organs had not been removed, which, along with the open mouth, led experts to believe she had not been worthy of a full embalming. However, a detailed analysis has shown that she was embalmed with expensive imported oils of frankincense and juniper, and her wig was treated with quartz, magnetite, and albite crystals. These findings suggest she was of high status, as the tomb of the pharaoh Tutankhamun also contained frankincense and juniper. Dr. Sahar Saleem, a professor of radiology at Kasr Al Ainy Hospital of Cairo University, stated, "The mummy’s screaming facial expression in this study could be read as a cadaveric spasm, implying that the woman died screaming from agony or pain." Cadaveric spasm is a rare form of muscular stiffening typically associated with violent deaths under extreme physical conditions and intense emotion. Experts believe the woman was mummified quickly after death before her jaw relaxed, leaving embalmers unable to close her mouth as usual. Dr. Saleem added, "The Screaming Woman is a true 'time capsule' of the way that she died and was mummified. Here we show that she was embalmed with costly, imported embalming material. This, and the mummy’s well-preserved appearance, contradicts the traditional belief that a failure to remove her inner organs implied poor mummification." The new study suggests she was likely an important relative of Senmut, whose fate remains unknown. He left public life abruptly during Hatshepsut’s reign and, despite planning two elaborate tombs for himself, was not buried in either. Radiographers used CT scans to "virtually dissect" the screaming mummy and estimate her age, health, and state of preservation. The tests showed she was around 48 years old when she died and just over 5ft tall. There was no obvious cause of death, but the presence of osteophytes, or bone spurs, on her vertebrae indicated she had mild arthritis of the spine. She lacked several teeth, which were probably lost before death as there was evidence of bone resorption, which occurs when a tooth comes out and the socket is left to heal. Other teeth were broken. The mummy showed no embalming incision, consistent with the discovery that the brain, diaphragm, heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, and intestines were still present. The classic method of mummification in the New Kingdom (1550–1069 BCE) included the removal of all such organs except the heart. The woman was buried in a painted wooden coffin and wore two scarab rings in silver and gold. This research was published in *Frontiers in Medicine* and provides new insights into the life and death of this mysterious woman, whose agonizing final moments have been preserved for millennia. Credit: Daily Telegraph 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.

Justin Mohn, accused of decapitating his father and posting a video of the severed head online, has been declared competent to stand trial. The ruling, made by Judge Stephen Corr after a nearly five-hour hearing, means that Mohn will face charges of first-degree murder, abusing a corpse, and other related crimes. Mohn, dressed in a yellow jumpsuit with “inmate” printed on the back and hands cuffed in front of him, attended the hearing where he frequently smiled, nodded, or shook his head during testimony. The judge also granted Mohn’s request to dismiss his public defender and appoint a new attorney, to which Mohn responded affirmatively when asked if he would cooperate with the new lawyer. The case has garnered significant attention due to the nature of the crime and Mohn's subsequent arrest at a National Guard base, two hours away from his Levittown home. The video of the decapitation, which had already been widely viewed online, added to the case's notoriety. During the hearing, Dr. Kelly Chamberlain, a forensic psychologist and prosecution witness, testified that Mohn appeared intelligent, calm, and socially appropriate during her two meetings with him. She noted that Mohn disagreed with his attorney’s strategy of using a mental health defense, suggesting that he was appropriately self-interested. Chamberlain disputed the findings of defense expert Dr. John Markey, who initially diagnosed Mohn with schizophrenia but later revised it to delusional disorder. Markey pointed to Mohn’s claims of being the messiah and his belief in being persecuted by the federal government. Mohn’s delusions extended to thinking his public defender was a federal agent working against him, and he even wrote a letter to Russia’s ambassador to the United States seeking refuge, while apologizing to President Vladimir Putin for claiming to be the czar of Russia. “It’s all delusional,” Markey stated. Chamberlain, however, interpreted Mohn’s claims differently. She believed that while his writings could be seen as delusional, they were more rhetorical, indicating his feeling of being wronged by society. She mentioned that Mohn wrote about “Satanic” cults within the U.S. believing he was the messiah, a point Mohn agreed with during her testimony. Corrections officer Ralph Taylor, another prosecution witness, described Mohn as “extremely polite” and respectful in jail, further supporting the prosecution’s argument that Mohn was competent to participate in his legal defense. Judge Corr directly questioned Mohn at the start of the proceedings, and Mohn demonstrated an understanding of the charges against him, including the “most serious” charge of first-degree murder. Prosecutors allege that Mohn fatally shot his father, Michael Mohn, with a pistol before using a kitchen knife and machete to decapitate him. Justin Mohn then recorded a video holding his father’s head, identifying him as a 20-year federal employee, and calling for violence against the government. Blood stains and a computer with several open tabs, including YouTube, were found in the room where the video was recorded. In the video, Mohn espoused various conspiracy theories and ranted about the Biden administration, immigration, fiscal policy, urban crime, and the war in Ukraine. The video was available on YouTube for several hours before being taken down. Justin Mohn is being held without bail and faces charges of first-degree murder, abusing a corpse, and possession of instruments of crime. The ruling of his competency ensures that the case will proceed to trial, where the gruesome details and Mohn’s mental state will be scrutinized in the courtroom. Credit: NBC 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.

Russia and its close ally Belarus have successfully negotiated a significant prisoner exchange with the United States and Germany. This deal has resulted in the release of several high-profile detainees, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, retired U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, and the Russian-British journalist and Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza. Additionally, some Russian dissidents, allies of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, were freed and allowed to leave Russia. While the release of these individuals is undoubtedly good news, the stark reality remains that Russia has effectively engaged in hostage-taking, leveraging the lives of innocent people for strategic gains. This exchange marks one of the largest of its kind since the Cold War, during which the United States and the Soviet Union typically traded spies quietly and in small numbers. Notably, one of the largest Cold War exchanges occurred in 1985, when 25 East German political prisoners were traded for three Soviet spies and one Polish agent. In the post-Cold War era, a significant exchange involved ten deep-cover Russian spies arrested by the FBI in 2010, who were traded for four prisoners from Russia. The scale of the current exchange raises questions about why the Russians have chosen to act now and release such a large number of prisoners. The underlying reason for this exchange appears to be that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his advisors believe the timing and the balance of assets are finally in their favor. They have strategically arrested individuals on minor or fabricated charges, using them as bargaining chips until the West offered enough in return to make the deal worthwhile for Moscow. An earlier attempt to negotiate the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner, as reported by CNN, failed because the United States alone could not offer a prisoner held in Germany. This time, however, the Russians included a German citizen, arrested for possession of cannabis gummies, alongside more prominent detainees, tipping the scales in their favor. Prisoner swaps serve multiple purposes for Russia, regardless of the timing. Firstly, they create a false equivalence between the West and Russia in the public eye. By framing these exchanges as "prisoner swaps," the media inadvertently suggest a level of parity: both sides have prisoners and make deals. This obscures the fact that while the West holds Russian murderers and spies, Russia detains Western journalists and ordinary citizens. Secondly, and more critically, these swaps send a clear message to those doing the Kremlin's bidding overseas: Putin will not abandon them. Unlike the disavowal of agents depicted in American media like "Mission: Impossible," Putin reassures his operatives that he will go to great lengths to bring them home if they are caught. Despite the grim motivations behind these deals, democracies are compelled to engage in them to protect their citizens. The lives of innocent individuals matter, and efforts to bring them back to their families are paramount. However, each successful deal reinforces Putin's assurance to his agents and hitmen that their crimes will not go unpunished, as he will always work to secure their release. Negotiating these deals is a lengthy process, taking weeks, months, or even years. Consequently, it is unwise to link this deal too closely to American politics. The Kremlin operates on its own timeline, independent of U.S. electoral cycles, and is indifferent to whether the deal benefits President Joe Biden or undermines former President Donald Trump's claims of unique efficacy in securing releases. To the Kremlin, such considerations are mere background noise. The timing of the deal likely coincides with a strategic decision to act when the terms were most favorable, rather than waiting for a new administration. While the release of Gershkovich, Whelan, Kara-Murza, and others is cause for celebration among Americans and their European allies, it is crucial to recognize that the Kremlin has achieved its goals. This exchange serves as a reminder to Westerners that setting foot in Russia could result in becoming the next bargaining chip for future deals. As part of this exchange, the Russians are set to receive a mix of criminals, including Vadim Krasikov, a colonel in the Russian intelligence services sentenced to life in a German prison for executing a Kremlin-ordered hit on a dissident in Berlin. Moscow's demands also reportedly include a Russian money launderer in an American prison and two Russian spies apprehended in Slovenia. This strategic maneuvering by the Kremlin underscores the ongoing geopolitical chess game, where human lives are regrettably used as pawns to achieve broader political objectives. Credit: The Atlantic 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.

Huw Edwards is the latest in a long line of high-profile controversies at the BBC, raising the persistent question: will they ever learn from their mistakes? This familiar refrain greets scandal after scandal at the BBC. Lessons had to be learned after the prolific sexual abuse by Jimmy Savile was finally exposed. Again, they needed learning after the corporation was found to have covered up "deceitful behaviour" by journalist Martin Bashir to secure his Panorama interview with Princess Diana. Lessons were the order of the day after Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross made their infamous prank call to actor Andrew Sachs. Yet, to the average licence-fee payer, dismayed but perhaps no longer shocked by the news of yet another scandal, these words risk ringing a little hollow. This time, it’s Huw Edwards in the frame, and once again, the BBC itself. The corporation knew in November that their star news presenter had been arrested on suspicion of serious offences. It continued to employ him for the following five months until his resignation in April. Last year, he was the BBC’s highest-paid journalist, receiving between £475,000 and £479,999, following a £40,000 salary increase. This week, he pleaded guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court to three counts of making indecent images of children, bringing to a shameful end an illustrious career as the face of some of Britain’s biggest news events. If it feels like we’ve been here before, that’s probably because we have. The roll call of names is now depressingly familiar. Former BBC entertainer Rolf Harris was convicted of a string of historic indecent assaults on girls in 2014. Chris Langham, star of BBC comedy The Thick of It, was found guilty of possessing child pornography in 2007. Stuart Hall, star of BBC show It’s a Knockout, was jailed in 2013 after admitting historical indecent assaults of 13 girls, one as young as nine. Savile’s offending, revealed in 2012, was of a different order of magnitude, as was the failure of the BBC (and other organisations) to put an end to his decades-long spree of sex crimes, despite opportunities to do so arising. Edwards’ case is different, but the fact that the BBC finds itself here again raises the inevitable question of why it seems to be so plagued by scandals. One answer, say insiders, lies in the way stars are treated at the corporation. "People like Edwards at the BBC become demigods," says Robin Aitken, former BBC journalist and author of the book Can We Trust The BBC? "They think they’re above the rules." No manager, not even the director-general, is considered bigger than the on-screen talent. This leads to excessive reverence towards the big names, he suggests. Very often, BBC managers are reluctant to take on criticism of their big stars. I think there is a problem there, managing these big stars and their behaviour. If their behaviour is bad in any way, is the BBC sufficiently tough, and does it take sufficient action? I suspect not. Meirion Jones, a former BBC journalist whose Newsnight investigation into Savile was pulled, agrees the BBC treats its celebrities and star presenters "in a way that makes them think they’re almost gods." He says: "We saw that with Savile, we saw it with Russell Brand, we’ve seen it again with Edwards. There’s a feeling they are not constrained by the same rules that affect ordinary people working at the BBC." But this culture of invulnerability doesn’t only enable bad behaviour from on-screen talent, he indicates. It also seems to permeate those higher up in the corporation. In the recent past, Jones has been approached by BBC staffers telling him that when complaints are made to senior managers, it’s the complainants who are dealt with. "They end up leaving," he says. "That then means the managers tend to line up with the big names in thinking they’re all-powerful, and ordinary people who work at the BBC are not." A common complaint is quite how many of these senior managers are employed by the broadcaster, according to one former senior BBC news correspondent. "The BBC as an organisation is very top-heavy," he says. "The thing you’ll always hear from people at the coalface is, ‘Why are there so many managers, and what the hell do they do?’" Another BBC insider puts it equally bluntly: "Management is incapable of managing." This view is arguably borne out by the apparently botched handling of crisis after crisis, and what some see as a culture of cover-ups. This, indeed, was the flavour of Lord Dyson’s damning report into the Bashir affair. The review said that several senior figures knew about the duplicity the journalist deployed to land his interview with Diana and still did nothing about it. The circumstances surrounding Edwards’ downfall aren’t entirely clear-cut. While the BBC now admits it had been "made aware in confidence" in November of Edwards’ arrest, it points out that no charges had been brought against him at this time and stresses that it had "been made aware of significant risk to his health." In an interview on Thursday, Tim Davie, director-general of the BBC, defended the decision not to sack Edwards back then, despite knowing that the presenter’s arrest involved the most serious category of indecent images of children. He said the corporation had taken "difficult decisions in a fair and judicious manner." But there have also been accusations by BBC employees that Edwards sent them inappropriate messages. Two complainants have said that they couldn’t report this behaviour to BBC managers. While the BBC says it always treats "the concerns of staff with care" and "would always urge any staff members to speak to us if they have any concerns," these revelations will prove uncomfortable for them. "There isn’t an open whistleblower culture," says Jones. Instead of swiftly addressing concerns and getting to the bottom of them – or what Tim Davie might call "getting a grip" – there’s a sense that a proactive approach is neglected in favour of a process that is at best slow and lumbering, and at worst, wilfully blind to possible wrongdoing. Naturally, other broadcasters are not immune from scandal. In recent years, ITV had its Phillip Schofield moment to contend with; Fox News had its Roger Ailes sexual harassment scandal (which also exposed a culture of cover-ups at the station and was turned into the film Bombshell, starring Nicole Kidman). So-called black swan events can happen anywhere. What’s notable is the frequency with which they seem to happen at the BBC. "What we’ve seen is how these black swans are now white swans," says PR guru Mark Borkowski. "It’s a constant flurry. We look at yet another scandal and shake our heads." Huw Edwards, the former News at Ten anchor, resigned from the corporation in April this year on what he said were "health grounds," three months before pleading guilty in court to making indecent images of children. Jonathan King, the music svengali and a regular BBC face throughout the 1980s and 1990s, was convicted of sexually abusing five teenage boys in 2001. Despite this, BBC director-general Mark Thompson was forced to apologise to him a decade later, in 2011, after he was cut out of a Top of The Pops repeat. Jonathan King. The music svengali, a regular BBC face throughout the 1980s and 1990s, was convicted of sexually abusing five teenage boys in 2001. Despite this, BBC director general Mark Thompson was forced to apologise to him a decade later, in 2011, after he was cut out of a Top of The Pops repeat. Chris Langham, the star of The Thick of It, was found guilty on 15 charges of downloading child sex abuse images and videos in 2007 and jailed for ten months, reduced to six months on appeal. He was arrested two years prior after video files were discovered on a computer, a laptop, and an external hard disk drive at his home. Dave Lee Travis, in 2012, two former BBC employees claimed the former DJ and presenter had sexually assaulted several women during his tenure at the station. Two years later, he was eventually found guilty of indecently assaulting a female researcher working in the mid-1990s and given a three-month suspended sentence. Rolf Harris, Operation Yewtree swooped on the Australian painter in March 2013; a year later, he had been found guilty of all twelve counts of indecent assault levelled at him; six of the charges related to a sexual relationship between Harris and one of his daughter’s friends when she was between the ages of thirteen and fifteen. Jimmy Savile, the Savile sexual abuse scandal rocked the BBC in 2012, sparking "the worst crisis" in the broadcaster’s history and an enormous public backlash which saw trust in the organisation collapse. Hundreds of allegations of sexual abuse and recollections from witnesses surfaced a year after Savile’s death. Stuart Hall, the It’s A Knockout and football presenter, was found guilty of sexually assaulting young girls and was sentenced to fifteen months in prison in 2013. An additional conviction for indecent assault came the following year, by which time his jail time had been extended to thirty months. The risk of so many scandals is, of course, a loss of trust. For the publicly-funded BBC, this is particularly serious. "When you’ve got such a massive organisation, there’s enormous bureaucracy and there are always going to be people doing things management don’t know anything about until it becomes too late," says the former BBC news correspondent. "The question is, what do they do when they do have a whiff of scandal?" Many feel that what they do is not what needs to be done. "The BBC doesn’t tend to handle these things very well. It’s not nimble, it’s not like any sort of private organisation where there’s someone strong in charge who can react," says the former correspondent. So do they ever learn their lessons? Will they now? "The sort of lessons they do learn is to be more receptive to staff mental health and bullying in the workplace," says the former BBC correspondent. "But they haven’t learned how to deal with someone committing sex offences in their private life. It is very tricky. I’m sure there’ll be an inquiry, and they’ll say lessons have been learned. Who knows whether they will be?" Credit: Daily Telegraph 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.

Scorching temperatures sweeping across Western Europe and North Africa have resulted in tens of thousands of premature deaths and have severely affected athletes and spectators at the Olympic Games in Paris. A recent rapid analysis has revealed that this intense heatwave, characterized by a "heat dome," would have been impossible without human-induced global warming. Scientists have determined that the fossil-fueled climate crisis has increased temperatures by 4 to 6 degrees Fahrenheit. Such an extreme event, they noted, would not have occurred in the pre-industrial era but is now expected about once a decade due to global warming. Continued emissions of heat-trapping carbon dioxide are projected to make these heatwaves even more frequent. "Climate change crashed the Olympics on Tuesday," stated Friederike Otto, a climatologist at Imperial College London and a member of the World Weather Attribution group behind the analysis. "The world watched athletes swelter in 95-degree Fahrenheit heat. If the atmosphere wasn’t overloaded with emissions from burning fossil fuels, Paris would have been about 5 to 6 degrees cooler and much safer for sport." The extreme heat has significantly impacted numerous athletes, including gymnastics superstar Simone Biles, with one tennis player describing the conditions as "crazy." Sailing competitors have resorted to wearing ice vests to stay cool, while fans watching beach volleyball near the Eiffel Tower have been sprayed with hoses. Misting fountains have been set up at skateboarding and other venues, and millions of bottles of water have been distributed at train and Métro stations. "However, many people across the Mediterranean do not have the luxury of ice packs, air conditioning, or cooling breaks at work," Otto pointed out. "For these people, extreme heat can mean death." The analysis examined the dangerous heat in July, which caused temperatures to soar past 104 degrees Fahrenheit in many areas, exacerbating wildfires in Portugal and Greece and worsening water shortages in Italy and Spain. In Morocco, temperatures reached 118 degrees Fahrenheit, with one hospital reporting 21 deaths. The heatwave is expected to have caused many more premature deaths across the region, although assembling the required data will take time. For instance, extreme heat in the European summer of 2022 is now known to have led to 61,000 early deaths. Dr. Mariam Zachariah, a research associate at Imperial College London, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "[Our new] analysis helps people understand that climate change is not a distant threat, but an immediate one that is already making life on Earth much more dangerous." Heat action plans have been implemented in countries such as France, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, but not yet in Morocco. These plans include early warning systems, water and first aid stations, and altered hours for outdoor workers to mitigate the impact of extreme heat. The July heatwave was caused by a large-scale high-pressure ridge, often referred to as a "heat dome." This event followed 13 months of extreme heat globally, with each of the last 13 months being the hottest ever recorded. The climate crisis is making all heatwaves hotter, longer, and more frequent around the world. Scientists assessed the impact of human-induced global warming on the extreme July heat by comparing these events between today's climate, with about 1.3 degrees Celsius of global warming, and the cooler pre-industrial climate. This analysis builds on previous studies of heatwaves in the Mediterranean region in April and July 2023, which used weather data and computer climate models. This foundation meant that only weather data was needed for the new analysis, allowing it to be produced almost immediately. Many hundreds of attribution studies have now been completed, covering heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, floods, and storms. They include a growing number of events deemed impossible without human-caused warming, demonstrating how human activity has already supercharged extreme weather across the globe. "As long as humans burn oil, gas, and coal, heatwaves will get hotter and more people will die premature deaths," said Otto. "The good news is that we don’t need some magic solution to stop things from getting worse. We know exactly what we need to do and have the technology and knowledge needed to do it—replace fossil fuels with renewable energy and stop deforestation. The faster we do this, the better." UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently underscored the urgency of this issue, stating, "I must call out the flood of fossil fuel expansion we are seeing in some of the world’s wealthiest countries." This comment followed revelations by the Guardian about a surge in new oil and gas exploration in 2024, with countries such as the US and the UK leading the charge, issuing a record 825 oil and gas licenses in 2023. As the world continues to grapple with the consequences of climate change, the evidence is clear: human activity is driving extreme weather events, and urgent action is needed to mitigate the impacts and protect future generations. The crisis facing athletes at the Olympics is a stark reminder of the broader, life-threatening impacts of climate change on people around the world. Credit: Mother Jones 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.

In a gathering of foreign lawmakers in Taipei, President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan delivered a dire warning about the global ramifications of a potential Chinese invasion of the island. Addressing the summit organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), President Lai emphasized that such an event would have more severe consequences than both Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemic. Speaking on Tuesday during the largest assembly of foreign dignitaries in Taiwan, President Lai highlighted the profound economic and geopolitical impacts a conflict in the Taiwan Strait would precipitate. He stressed that “any conflict in the Taiwan Strait will have a more profound economic impact on the world than the Russia-Ukraine war and Covid-19.” This statement underscored Taiwan's integral role in global supply chains and the potential for widespread economic upheaval. The summit drew hundreds of members from parliaments in over 35 countries, all focused on addressing Beijing’s increasing threats to democracy and human rights. Despite significant pressure from the Chinese government to dissuade participation, lawmakers from nations including the UK, Australia, Japan, and South Korea attended, reaffirming their commitment to Taiwan's sovereignty and regional stability. President Lai commended the international lawmakers for their courage in attending the summit despite China's attempts at intimidation. Reports emerged that Chinese officials had contacted several invitees, urging them not to attend and even offering alternative visits to the Chinese mainland. Lai described these actions as part of a broader campaign of intimidation aimed at Xi Jinping’s “authoritarian external expansion” and the seizure of Taiwan. In his address, Lai outlined Taiwan’s preparations for a potential invasion, including recent “unscripted, actual-combat” drills designed to strengthen the island’s defense capabilities. He clarified that military confrontation is not Taiwan’s preferred outcome. “Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are closely related to global democracy, peace, and prosperity,” Lai stated, advocating for collaboration with democratic partners to build a “democratic umbrella” to counteract authoritarian threats. The significance of the summit was underscored by China’s military actions, including sending at least a dozen warplanes across the median line of the Taiwan Strait as the discussions commenced. Despite this show of force, Taiwanese Vice-President Hsiao Bi-khim engaged in candid discussions with the visiting lawmakers, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining regional stability. Luke de Pulford, IPAC’s director, noted the strong consensus among the participants on the importance of preventing an invasion. “There were a lot of different opinions about different scenarios that can happen around the Taiwan Strait. What they do seem to agree on is that [an invasion] must not be allowed to happen, it must be deterred from happening and [we must] use everything that we can in our diplomatic toolbox and otherwise to prevent it from happening,” de Pulford said. He also addressed China’s interference with the summit, condemning Beijing’s attempts to influence the travel plans of foreign politicians. “They tried to bully the global South countries. They wouldn’t dare to do it in Western, richer democracies. They think they can bully and coerce, which is even more deplorable. China’s intimidation tactics did not work,” he stated emphatically. As the world watches the developments in Taiwan, President Lai’s warnings highlight the precarious nature of the situation and the potentially devastating consequences of a conflict in the Taiwan Strait. The summit in Taipei stands as a testament to the international community's resolve to support Taiwan in the face of growing authoritarian pressures from Beijing. Credit: The Independent 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.

Retired senior US general and former Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark has issued a stark warning to Democrats, urging them not to underestimate former President Donald Trump. Speaking on the One Decision podcast, hosted by journalist Julia Macfarlane and Sir Richard Dearlove, a former head of British intelligence service MI6, Clark emphasized the persistent influence and appeal Trump holds among the American public, despite widespread disdain from those who have worked closely with him. “I don’t think anybody who works for Trump has ever recommended him,” Clark remarked. “Not John Bolton, not John Kelly, the retired marines general who was [White House] chief of staff … not [retired marines general] Jim Mattis, who resigned as secretary of defense under Trump. I don’t think people who work for him have any respect for his ability.” However, Clark acknowledged Trump's unique qualities that resonate with a significant portion of the electorate. “But here’s the thing about Trump. He works really hard. He’s very clever. He is charismatic. He can be very charming. And so Democrats and people who are on the outside have a tendency to underestimate him, because he has misspellings in his tweets and he’s very emotional and he doesn’t know anything about policies. But he does touch a chord in the American public.” Clark, who served as NATO's supreme allied commander in Europe before retiring in 2000, highlighted Trump's ability to connect with voters on a "chord of grievance," particularly regarding foreign wars. Reflecting on his own experiences during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Clark noted that Trump successfully tapped into a deep-seated distrust that dates back to the aftermath of the Vietnam War. “Trump, he said, tapped into a distrust fed by those conflicts but which goes back really to the aftermath of the war in Vietnam, which he didn’t fight in, by the way, which he escaped with a spurious bone spur [note] from a doctor.” Despite Trump's contentious reputation and numerous controversies, Clark stressed the importance of not underestimating his political prowess. “But the point is, [Trump is] not to be underestimated as a politician. And I think a lot of the problems that President Biden had are traceable to Donald Trump, in foreign policy.” Clark cited the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 as an example of the lasting impact of Trump’s policies. “The US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, after Trump reached an agreement with the Taliban, but left Biden to end a 20-year US military presence with a chaotic evacuation.” As the 2024 presidential election looms, with Vice President Kamala Harris now the Democratic nominee following President Joe Biden's decision to step aside, Clark outlined the significant challenges the next president might face. He emphasized the importance of managing international relations, particularly with China, Europe, NATO, and Iran. “For presidents, foreign policy almost always produces a crisis within the first year,” Clark said. “Iran is going to be nuclear within a year, for sure. They could be nuclear right now. Some of my friends tell me they’ve already got five or six nuclear weapons. They’re just waiting to test … and so this is going to be probably the first crisis that a President Kamala Harris has to face when she comes into office.” In the political arena, Harris and her yet-to-be-named running mate face a formidable challenge against Trump and his vice-presidential pick, JD Vance, a 39-year-old former marine turned hard-right Ohio senator. Clark discussed Trump’s appeal to military veterans and voters, despite numerous reports of his disparaging remarks about service and sacrifice. “I think Trump comes in with an advantage for the veterans vote simply because he’s masculine,” Clark said. “He … talks tough, and so a certain number of people will like that. [But] I can tell you support among the senior officer corps is maybe 5%, or maybe less, because people have seen him and worked for him up close. I have no respect for him whatsoever. He doesn’t care about the facts, doesn’t care about the concepts, doesn’t learn, doesn’t listen. [He’s] not somebody who can be trusted with national security secrets. He’s a security threat, etc, etc.” Clark also addressed the potential reception of Kamala Harris as a female commander-in-chief by the US military. Asked if he thought the military was ready to accept Harris, Clark responded confidently: “Sure. There’s no problem there.” Credit: The Guardian 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.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has publicly challenged Tesla CEO Elon Musk to a fight on national television. This bizarre challenge came in response to Musk's allegations of election fraud following Venezuela's recent presidential election, where both Maduro and his opponent claimed victory. The controversy began when Musk took to the social media platform X to accuse Maduro of committing major election fraud. "Maduro, leave! Venezuelans chose to end the communist dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro. The data announce a crushing victory of the opposition, and the world is waiting for you to recognize the defeat after years of socialism, misery, decadence, and death," Musk wrote. Maduro, visibly angered by Musk's statements, referred to the tech billionaire as a threat to Venezuela. In a dramatic twist, he challenged Musk to a fight on national television, saying, "Social media creates a virtual reality, and who controls the virtual reality? Our new archenemy, the famous Elon Musk. Do you want to fight? Let’s do it. Elon Musk, I’m ready. I’m not afraid of you, Elon Musk. Let’s fight, wherever you want." Musk, never one to shy away from a confrontation, responded to a tweet about Maduro's challenge with a simple, "I accept." This response quickly went viral, adding a surreal element to the already contentious political climate in Venezuela. The Venezuelan National Electoral Council, which is loyal to Maduro, declared him the winner of the recent election with 51% of the vote. This result was contested by opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, who reportedly won 44% of the vote according to multiple exit polls. The Carter Center, an Atlanta-based organization, stated that it could not verify the election results due to a "complete lack of transparency" and noted that the election did not meet international standards for democracy. "The electoral authority’s failure to announce disaggregated results by polling station constitutes a serious breach of electoral principles," the Carter Center said. The organization had deployed 17 experts across four cities in Venezuela, but their efforts to ensure a transparent election were thwarted by the authorities. Maduro, a 61-year-old former bus driver and foreign minister, has maintained strong support from Venezuela's military. Despite multiple rounds of demonstrations against his rule since 2014, the opposition has shifted its focus to the electoral process in an attempt to unseat him. The disputed election results have further fueled tensions within the country. This is not the first time Musk has provoked a global figure. He has a history of making bold claims and engaging in public spats, notably with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Musk has often boasted that he could win in a fight against Zuckerberg, a challenge that has been ongoing since last June when Zuckerberg launched Threads, a social media platform that competes directly with Musk’s X. Although talks of a charity cage match were once in the works, they eventually fizzled out when Musk cited a potential need for surgery to fix a back injury. Credit: NYP 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.

In a recent turn of events, a Netflix executive has admitted that the story portrayed in the series "Baby Reindeer" is not entirely factual, following allegations of misleading statements to Members of Parliament. Benjamin King, Netflix’s director of public policy, previously described the show to the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) committee as a “true story of the horrific abuse … Richard Gadd suffered at the hands of a convicted stalker.” "Baby Reindeer" is a dramatic retelling of comedian Richard Gadd’s real-life experiences, with Gadd himself playing the lead role. Actress Jessica Gunning stars as Martha, a character based on Gadd’s alleged stalker, believed to be a woman named Fiona Harvey. Despite these claims, there is no recorded evidence to support that Ms. Harvey from Aberdeenshire was ever convicted of any offense. Following the committee session on May 8, former SNP MP John Nicolson requested that Mr. King provide evidence to substantiate his claims about the conviction. Nicolson stated to the BBC, “It’s clear that the evidence given by Netflix to the select committee is disputed. The charge made – of a conviction – is very important. Journalists can find no evidence to back up the Netflix claim. I will be writing to Netflix to ask them to substantiate the claim they made.” In a subsequent letter to Dame Caroline Dinenage, the former chairwoman of the committee, Mr. King clarified that the individual on whom the show is based was actually subject to a court order rather than a conviction. The letter, dated May 23, reads: “Dear Dame Caroline, Thank you for the opportunity to speak with the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on May 8 as part of your inquiry into British film and high-end television. As I said in my oral evidence, Netflix is investing heavily in quality British TV, with a string of recent hits, including Baby Reindeer. In response to a question about the characters portrayed in that series, I said that ‘it’s an extraordinary true story... of the horrific abuse that the writer and protagonist Richard Gadd suffered at the hands of a convicted stalker’. I wanted to clarify our understanding that the person on whom the show is based – who we have at no point sought to identify – was subject to a court order rather than a conviction. The writer of Baby Reindeer endured serious harassment over many months – as it now seems has been the case for many others – which had a significant impact on his wellbeing.” After the series' release in April, Fiona Harvey came forward claiming to be the inspiration behind Martha, the character portrayed as Gadd’s stalker. Harvey contested the show's accuracy, stating, “Baby Reindeer is not a true story at all” and insisting, “I am not a convicted stalker.” Subsequently, Harvey filed a lawsuit against Netflix in June, accusing the streaming giant of defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, gross negligence, and violations of her right of publicity. At the CMS committee session, Mr. King emphasized the importance of telling Richard Gadd’s story truthfully. He expressed discomfort with the notion of silencing Gadd, stating, “I personally wouldn’t be comfortable with a world in which we decided it was better that Richard was silenced, and not allowed to tell his story.” Following the series’ appearance on Netflix, Gadd received the award for best breakthrough limited series at the inaugural Gotham TV Awards. During his acceptance speech, he expressed his gratitude, saying he was “forever grateful” to those involved in bringing the show to life. He also urged viewers not to speculate about the real-life individuals who inspired the series’ characters. The revelations surrounding the factual inaccuracies in "Baby Reindeer" highlight the complexities and responsibilities of adapting real-life events into dramatic narratives. As the situation unfolds, it underscores the ongoing debate about the balance between creative storytelling and factual integrity in media portrayals. Credit: Daily Telegraph 2024-08-01 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.

Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a pointed response to former President Donald J. Trump after he questioned her identity as a Black woman. Speaking at a convention of Sigma Gamma Rho, a leading Black sorority, Harris criticized Trump's divisive rhetoric, emphasizing the need for truthfulness and respect in leadership. Harris stated that the American people deserve better, a leader who does not react with hostility and anger when faced with the facts and who understands that diversity is a source of strength rather than division. Harris’s comments came after Trump’s remarks in Chicago, where he questioned whether Harris identified as Indian or Black and falsely claimed she had shifted her identity from Indian to Black. Harris, who is of Jamaican and Indian heritage and a graduate of Howard University, chose not to address Trump’s comments directly. Instead, she focused on the broader theme of unity and the importance of integrity in leadership. Harris's measured response to Trump’s remarks may indicate her approach to future attacks. This strategy contrasts with how former President Barack Obama dealt with similar unfounded accusations from Trump. Obama largely ignored the "birther" conspiracy theories, while Harris is addressing the underlying issues of respect and truthfulness. Harris has placed her campaign within the larger context of racial progress in America, likening her efforts to those of abolitionists and civil rights activists. During a rally in Atlanta, she reminded the audience that previous generations had fought for freedom and that the current generation now holds the baton. Harris’s involvement in Alpha Kappa Alpha, another prominent Black sorority, alongside Sigma Gamma Rho, has garnered significant support from these organizations. Her position as the vice-presidential candidate on the Democratic ticket has energized many within the party, particularly African Americans, at a time when Trump has been making inroads among Black voters. Trump’s comments at a convention of Black journalists in Chicago seemed aimed at creating a rift among these voters. Asha’ Jones, a member of Sigma Gamma Rho, expressed her disdain for Trump’s attacks on Harris, asserting that Harris does not need to prove her Blackness to anyone as she knows who she is. Many attendees at the convention, dressed in the sorority’s traditional gold jackets, resonated with the words of former First Lady Michelle Obama: “When they go low, we go high.” Harris seemed to echo this sentiment in her speech’s conclusion, urging people to continue fighting with faith, optimism, and hope. Credit: NYT 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.

In a startling demonstration in Times Square, anti-Israel protesters brandished a portrait of assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and waved a flag symbolizing the terrorist group on Wednesday afternoon. The rally, marked by chants of "Free Palestine," saw one protester holding a Hamas flag while another displayed a photo of Haniyeh. This individual, masked and wearing sunglasses, also donned a hat with a yellow headband representing Hezbollah, another terrorist organization. Among the roughly 300 demonstrators, another protester held up Haniyeh’s portrait while Palestinian flags were waved prominently. The rally appeared to be a response to a speech by former Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Jonathan Conricus in midtown. Supporters of Israel, numbering in the hundreds, attended the event, with about 50 remaining into the evening to counter the pro-Palestinian demonstration by waving Israeli flags. Tensions escalated when pro-Palestinian protesters surrounded two Israel supporters and allegedly threw liquid at them. In retaliation, a woman wearing a pro-Israel shirt sprayed the group with an unknown substance, as captured in footage from the scene. The man accompanying her explained to police that she was "protecting herself" before officers intervened and separated her from the crowd. One Israel supporter expressed sadness over the pro-Palestinian protesters' resort to violence, criticizing Haniyeh as a "war monger." The protest took place less than 24 hours after Haniyeh was reportedly killed in an airstrike at his residence in Tehran. Credit: NYP 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.

The appearance of former President Donald Trump at the National Association of Black Journalists’ (NABJ) annual convention on Wednesday quickly became a spectacle of controversy and offense. Within minutes of the event's start, Trump's interactions with the three Black women moderators were marred by insults and racially charged comments, setting a combative tone for the session. Trump began by criticizing the moderators' initial question, which he perceived as disrespectful. “You don’t even say, hello, how are you?” he said, expressing clear offense at a query regarding his history of denigrating Black people. He then took a swipe at one of the moderators, asking, “Are you with ABC? Because I think they’re a fake news network, a terrible network, and I think it’s disgraceful that I came here in good spirit.” The tension escalated as Trump directed racist remarks towards Vice President Kamala Harris. “I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black,” he said, to the audible shock of the audience. Trump continued to assert that he had “done so much for the Black community” while labeling the interviewers as “nasty” and a “disgrace.” Throughout the session, the moderators—Semafor’s Kadia Goba, ABC News’ Rachel Scott, and Fox News’ Harris Faulkner—pressed Trump on various topics, including his willingness to pardon January 6 rioters. “If they’re innocent, I would pardon them,” he stated. He also suggested that Harris should take a cognitive test, referencing her initial failure of the bar exam before she was admitted to the California bar in 1990. Trump’s comments elicited repeated gasps from the audience, particularly when he declared, “A black job is anybody that has a job.” This remark, among others, highlighted the former president's fraught relationship with Black journalists and the broader Black community. The announcement of Trump’s participation in the NABJ convention had already sparked intense backlash. Some Black journalists argued that his history of attacking Black women journalists should have precluded him from being invited. Bobby Henry, chair of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, which represents over 240 Black-owned newspapers, voiced his opposition prior to the event. He stated that Trump's appearance “undermines the NABJ’s values of inclusion and solidarity and risks normalizing his damaging behavior.” In response to the criticism, the NABJ attempted to justify the decision by emphasizing that the interviewers would address “the most pressing issues facing the Black community.” They also clarified that Trump's participation did not constitute an endorsement from the organization. As the session drew to a close, it was clear that Trump's remarks had left a significant impact, with audience members and moderators alike grappling with the offensive nature of his comments. The NABJ is now working on scheduling a similar discussion with Vice President Kamala Harris for September, hoping to address the same pressing issues in a more respectful and productive manner. Credit: Mother Jones 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.

Update:

In a remarkable diplomatic maneuver, Turkey has facilitated the release and exchange of twenty-six prisoners from seven different countries. This significant exchange took place in Ankara and involved detainees from the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, Russia, and Belarus. According to the Turkish presidency's statement, ten individuals, including two minors, were relocated to Russia. Thirteen prisoners were sent to Germany, and three were transferred to the United States. Among the prominent figures released were Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and US Marine Paul Whelan. Additionally, German mercenary Rico Krieger, who had been imprisoned in Belarus, and Russian opposition politician Ilya Yashin, were also part of the exchange. This prisoner swap is one of the largest and most extraordinary in modern history, not only due to the number of individuals involved but also because of the diverse nationalities of the prisoners. This event is particularly notable given the backdrop of the worst relations between the West and Russia since the end of the Cold War in 1991. Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the acceleration of hostilities since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, it is evident that communication channels have remained open between the intelligence agencies of the involved nations. Turkey's involvement in this exchange is significant. Ibrahim Kalin, the head of Turkish intelligence (MIT), reportedly met his Russian counterpart in Ankara last week. Turkey, a NATO member, has managed to maintain a stable relationship with Moscow, largely due to the cooperative rapport between Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. Key details about the prisoner exchange reveal that three US citizens imprisoned in Russia are expected to be released as part of a deal agreed upon by the Biden administration. These individuals include Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, US Marine veteran Paul Whelan, and Russian-American radio journalist Alsu Kurmasheva. In total, the exchange involves 24 prisoners held in Russia, the US, Germany, and three other Western countries. Eight Russian nationals are expected to be returned to Russia, including several with suspected ties to Russian intelligence. While the swap has not yet been completed, it is expected to take place later today. Speculation about a major exchange grew after several dissidents and journalists jailed in Russia were reportedly moved from their prison cells to unknown locations. Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Kremlin opponent with dual Russian-British citizenship, is among those whose whereabouts are currently unknown, fueling expectations that he, too, might be released as part of the deal. If all these releases take place, this event will mark one of the biggest prisoner exchanges between Russia and the West in history. This development highlights Turkey's pivotal role in international diplomacy and the continuing efforts to maintain dialogue and negotiations despite the current geopolitical tensions. Credit: BBC 2024-08-01 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 diplomatic development, Russian President Vladimir Putin has released two high-profile American prisoners, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, as part of a prisoner swap deal. The details of the arrangement, including the identities of those exchanged, have not been fully disclosed, but the release follows days of intense speculation. Evan Gershkovich, who was sentenced to 16 years in a maximum-security penal colony on espionage charges, was arrested by Russia’s FSB security service in March 2023 during a reporting trip in Yekaterinburg. Accused of gathering secret information about a Russian tank factory for the CIA, Gershkovich's trial was widely condemned by the Wall Street Journal and the Biden administration as a sham. Paul Whelan, arrested in Moscow in 2018 and sentenced in 2020 to 16 years for espionage, was previously a figure in U.S.-Russia prisoner negotiations. His case was highlighted during the December 2022 swap that saw WNBA star Brittney Griner exchanged for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. At that time, U.S. officials noted that Russia refused to include Whelan in the deal, with President Joe Biden criticizing Moscow for treating Whelan’s case differently from Griner’s "for totally illegitimate reasons." Despite this, Biden vowed to continue efforts to bring Whelan home. Christo Grozev, an investigative journalist involved in the recent negotiations, described the swap as "bittersweet," acknowledging the release of individuals imprisoned on "insane charges" while also noting that the deal reinforces Putin’s strategy of using prisoners as "swap capital" to reclaim Russian operatives. In addition to Gershkovich and Whelan, the swap may involve Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian-British activist and journalist imprisoned since April 2023. Kara-Murza’s potential inclusion has been the subject of discussions within the UK government, although Britain does not typically engage in prisoner swaps. Some MPs have urged the Foreign Office to lobby the U.S. for his release, but it remains uncertain if these efforts will be successful, as negotiations with Russia are notoriously challenging. The release of Gershkovich and Whelan marks a notable moment in U.S.-Russia relations, reflecting ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve high-stakes prisoner cases despite strained ties between the two countries. This is an updating story. Credit: Daily Telegraph 2024-08-01 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.