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Abdul Hadi

Migrants targeted in South Africa after gang rape outrage

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  • Locals in Kagiso, near Johannesburg, set fire to the homes of migrants they suspect are working illegally. Miners were implicated in the gang rape of eight women last week.
  • Police used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse enraged mobs who were pursuing them with gardening tools. A group of ladies between the ages of 19 and 35 were allegedly recording a music video near an abandoned mine when they were ambushed and raped by hundreds of individuals.
  • 22 males who had been the targets of the violence were held by the police, possibly to stop them from being lynched.

The homes of migrants who they suspect are working illegally in abandoned local mines have been set on fire by residents of a South African township close to Johannesburg.

After a sizable number of miners were implicated in the gang rape of eight women last week, there was tremendous outrage.

Police have detained dozens of people in relation to the assault, but no one has been accused of rape.

Poverty has contributed to xenophobic attacks in recent years.

Some people hold the mistaken or correct belief that many of their problems are brought on by outsiders.

Locals in Kagiso claim that local criminality is caused by foreign miners, sometimes known as Zama Zamas. Tensions were raised by the sexual assaults that occurred last week in nearby Krugersdorp, and locals demanded a protest.

One local homeowner provided the BBC with the following justification for the protest: “I’m afraid to visit the stores. Our police force is inactive.”

Another woman criticised the migrants for the violent assaults and stated, “Let them stop doing what they are doing.”

On Thursday morning, police used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse enraged mobs who were pursuing the miners from the ground and from helicopters.

They were forced to seek protection in abandoned underground mine ventilation shafts by others brandishing gardening tools.

A reporter for the national TV network eNCA reported seeing naked males being led through the neighbourhood before being assaulted.

22 males who had been the targets of the violence were held by the police, possibly to stop them from being lynched.

One person has reportedly been discovered dead, but it’s not clear if the demonstration played any role in the person’s passing.

The township’s main thoroughfares have been blocked off with rocks, debris, and burning tyres.

People in Kagiso are already reporting that they worry about nighttime retaliation attacks.

A group of ladies between the ages of 19 and 35 were allegedly recording a music video near an abandoned mine when they were ambushed and raped by hundreds of individuals last week.

The attack on the women, according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, represents the “ugly and evil side of society.”

There have been several calls for increased prosecution of those responsible for the high rates of sexual violence in the nation.

Following the assault, at least 130 individuals have been apprehended, although many of them are being held on immigration-related charges as well as charges of illegally possessing explosives and firearms.

Before filing rape charges against anybody, the police claim they are awaiting the results of DNA tests.

The majority of the miners, who are from nearby nations, toil in the abandoned mineshafts that surround Johannesburg in hazardous and unregulated conditions.

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San Diego schools try untested radical agenda to push for mediocrity

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  • The San Diego Unified schools are experiencing a problem of mediocrity that is purposefully created. The same flawed mentality driving senior leaders is the cause of the urge to eliminate honours courses.
  • If nothing is done about it, it will turn out badly if nothing’s done at all. The political elite in San Diego don’t appear to be aware that they live in a society that values discrimination, individualism, and failure.
  • They would be wise to warmly welcome someone who genuinely supports academic brilliance instead of cruelly subjecting kids to social experimentation.

San Diego Unified schools are facing a crisis of intentionally designed mediocrity.

The desire to slash honors courses and upend traditional grading stems from the same bad philosophy animating its top leaders.

Their vision is captured by Marcia Gentry, director of the Gifted Education Resource Institute at Purdue, who claims that a test is “not really a raw ability test. Otherwise it would yield equal numbers among all groups of people.” In this line of thinking tests are clearly racist because as of today there are outcome disparities associated with race.

In a recent article in the San Diego Union Tribune, Richard Barrera, trustee on the San Diego Unified School District argued that determining a student’s intelligence via a test is “silly.” The paper paraphrased, saying he described the tests as “outdated and rooted in racism.”

Barrera makes the argument that personal recommendations from parents and teachers are a better metric to judge a student’s educational capabilities than actual tests. Barrera is moving the district toward eliminating advanced honors courses, and toward a pass-fail based grading system, where nobody is allowed to fail, because nobody is allowed to excel.

This will prove disastrous if left unchecked. The argument that academic testing was created to institute a racial hierarchy is a flat-out lie. It is a lazy solution that will take us down the dangerous path of leaving our students unprepared for the challenges of the real world.

Recently, Patrick Henry High parents were stunned to discover that some honors courses were no longer available to students. In the wake of public outcry this was amended and has since been seemingly resolved.

However, I’m of the strong opinion that district leaders are going to try this again and try it everywhere. I don’t believe they are sorry they did it. I believe they are sorry they got caught and didn’t properly brand the agenda.

To be sure, when these bad ideas resurface, they will be rebranded as “advanced courses for all,” but, in reality, they will be a one-size-fits-all intentionally designed mediocrity. Not everyone can take an advanced course, because students find themselves in different places, at different times. Unfortunately, these bankrupt course-ending ideas are often met with compassion, the essential fuel behind the equal outcome agenda, now branded as “equity.”

In truth, these arguments that play on compassion and caring are anything but. This vision is entirely forgetful of familial ties, and economic disparities, which are the two factors widely associated with educational outcomes.

Rather than looking to the family, they have set their eyes on the new radical chic, i.e. biological determinism based on race. This new form of discriminatory racism is now in vogue, and playing out at a school near you, to its detriment.

As parents pull their kids out in droves, by the tens of thousands in San Diego, away goes the needed funding that is based on average daily attendance. Almost everything is trending the wrong way in San Diego Unified, and that should be a cause for concern for all Americans. Mocking California’s failures from a distance is a self-defeating indulgence. There are real kids being left behind, and a once-great place that’s sliding into decline.

Someone must stop the bleeding driven by bad ideas. The next great scientist, architect, writer, or engineer cannot come out of San Diego if individual students are not allowed to pull themselves up as far as they can, regardless of their race.

San Diego’s leaders seem unaware that they operate in an echo chamber of discriminatory, anti-individualistic, anti-excellence thought. They would be well advised to welcome someone who truly stands for academic excellence, not radical social experimentation on children.

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India teen who died but raised millions to save her brother

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  • 16-year-old Afra Rafeeq died last week from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). SMA is a potentially fatal disease that affects one in 6,000 to 10,000 kids.
  • Her family raised millions of rupees for the care of her younger brother through a video appeal.
  • Her father claims she was driven to excel in all her studies and helped spread awareness of SMA.

A social media sensation from India who passed away last week raised millions of rupees for the care of her young brother through a video appeal.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare hereditary disorder that causes muscle weakness and impairs mobility and respiration, was present in 16-year-old Afra Rafeeq.

After experiencing disease-related problems, she passed away on Monday at a hospital in Kerala, a state in the southern United States.

She enjoyed life to the fullest extent possible, according to her father, PK Rafeeq.

Family members and neighbours of Afra recall her as a gifted young woman who loved to sing and learn despite suffering from great pain.

But in 2021, a trending video helped her gain nationwide popularity.

Her father claims that prior to incident, Afra rarely left her home in Kerala’s Kannur district. She only left the house to go to school or the hospital after receiving her SMA diagnosis at the age of four.

He explains, “We were quite discreet and focused on providing her the appropriate care.

Then, though, Muhammed, her younger brother, was also identified as having SMA.

Because we were aware of the suffering that our daughter had already endured, the family was “devastated,” according to Mr. Rafeeq.

Afra enjoyed spending time with her sister Anzila and brother Muhammad.
SMA is a potentially fatal disease that affects one in 6,000 to 10,000 kids. As a child ages, the problem worsens because it affects the motor neurons, which are spinal cord cells.

Key developmental milestones like holding up their neck, sitting, standing, and walking are difficult for kids with SMA to accomplish.

According to her father, Afra fought tooth and nail to make sure Muhammad received the proper medical care.

This included having access to Zolgensma, a relatively new gene therapy medication that the US FDA authorised in 2019. The medication, which is among the most expensive in the world, contains a copy of the gene that is missing in SMA patients and is administered as a single dosage to children under the age of two.

By the time Muhammad became one and a half years old, his family had little time left. However, according to Mr. Rafeeq, “the expense of the drug was unimaginable.”

Zolgensma had to be imported from the US and cost 180 million rupees ($2.2 million, £1.8 million) for one dose.

For our youngster, gene therapy has changed everything.
The NHS has authorised the “most expensive” medicine for a genetic condition.
Several Indians have used crowdfunding since Zolgensma was approved to obtain the medication, with some of them being successful after their appeals went viral. The health ministry of India has approved voluntary crowdsourcing for some uncommon disorders like SMA.

The family of Afra used a variety of resources, including crowdsourcing websites. In order to raise funds, their town council established a treatment committee. They were only able to raise a few hundred thousand rupees, though.

At that point, Afra assisted by her cousin in filming a video.

She stated in the web video, “I don’t want my brother to go through the suffering I have.”

It soon gained media attention after becoming viral on social media.

YL Ibrahim, a village council member, claims that “all of a sudden, money started coming in from everywhere.”

The fund for Muhammad’s medical care received 467.8 million rupees in just three days. Another public plea to avoid sending money was required by Afra.

According to Mr. Ibrahim, “We tried so many things, but it was her video and what she said that struck a chord with people.”

Following Muhammad’s dosage, the group used the additional monies to assist two additional SMA youngsters and then offered the remaining sum to the Kerala government.

Mr. Rafeeq claims that Afra “saved” the family.

After learning of her brother’s condition, Afra’s family was heartbroken after witnessing the suffering she through.
Afra, who was “overjoyed,” created a YouTube channel to inform viewers of her brother’s advancement. She amassed 259,000 subscribers in less than a year. Her hospital visits, home visits with her brother and sister, and celebrations of holidays and birthdays were all captured on camera in those movies.

In her films, she would also talk in-depth about Muhammad’s medical care and physical rehabilitation.

At the age of two, Muhammad is able to hold himself while standing and can crawl on his own.

“He is still unable to stand or walk by himself. However, his legs are starting to gain some strength “Says Mr. Rafeeq.

But Afra’s situation only became worse. Her parents claim that in the final days of her life, she would clench her teeth in agony and hardly be able to lift her hands.

The family was seen in her most recent video visiting a hospital in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. Thousands of people have posted condolence messages under the video once it was made public that she had passed away.

According to Mr. Rafeeq, Afra’s films helped spread knowledge of SMA throughout India.

He asserts, “I believe that was her life’s goal.” “Because of her, so many people realised what SMA is and what it does.”

Later this month, Afra would take school tests for which she had been studying diligently. Her father claims she was driven to excel in every subject.

He claims that the day after she passed away, he cried when he noticed a Post-it note with the words “You can do!” written on it affixed to the wall behind her desk.

It brought home to me how much of her is present throughout this entire place.

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Azerbaijan says it crushed Armenia attack near enclave, EU wants end to fighting

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Azerbaijan says it crushed Armenia attack near enclave, EU wants end to fighting

Azerbaijan says it repulsed an Armenian onslaught close to disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Azeri defence ministry accuses Armenia of gravely breaching the ceasefire. Yerevan asks international community to take measures against “aggressive behaviour” by Azerbaijan. International appeals for a stop to combat in the area that has been a flashpoint for 30 years were sparked by … Read more

Blast at bomb storage site sparks Berlin wildfire

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  • Explosions at an ammunition storage facility have caused a large wildfire in a forest in western Berlin.
  • The factory is used to store and detonate unexploded World War Two ordnance.

German police utilise the location in Grunewald forest to store and detonate unexploded ordnance, frequently from World War Two, which is still being dug up during construction.

The work of the firefighters have been hindered by periodic explosions that could be heard and seen from great distances.

Why the factory is located in a forest that is prone to fires is a subject of debate.

Due to the continued explosions, 140 firefighters are on the scene and have established a 1,000 m (3,280 ft) safety zone.

“We had detonations and combustions that resembled explosions. First responders were in grave risk of losing their lives due to flying debris, therefore they withdrew “Thomas Kirstein, a spokesman for the Berlin fire department, informed reporters on the site.

He went on to say that although the situation was “very exceptional,” Berliners were not in danger.

To remove the ammunition from the storage facility, which is controlled by the Berlin police’s weapons disposal department, an army tank has been dispatched.

According to German media, remote-controlled de-mining robots and drones are also being utilised to help assess the situation.

The fire had consumed 15,000 square metres of the forest as of Thursday afternoon, according to the officials.

The blast site is home to a variety of weapons, including fireworks. Videos posted online demonstrate the size of some of the explosions and pyrotechnics bursting in colour above the treetops.

A scorching heatwave is also being battled by firefighters; on Thursday, Berlin is expected to reach 37 degrees Celsius. According to Jan Thomsen from the Department for Environment, the forest is “bone dry” and suffering from the drought.

Authorities said that there were no firefighting helicopters available to assist since they were already occupied in eastern Germany, where there have been days of wildfires.

Investigations are being conducted to determine what triggered the dawn explosion that started the Grunewald forest fire.

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Indian youngster Afra Rafeeq raised millions of dollars to save her brother before passing away.

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Indian youngster Afra Rafeeq raised millions of dollars to save her brother before passing away.

SMA is a potentially fatal disease that affects one in 6,000 to 10,000 kids.  The health ministry of India has approved voluntary crowdsourcing for some uncommon disorders like SMA. Several Indians have used crowdfunding to obtain Zolgensma, with some being successful after their appeals went viral.   A social media sensation from India who passed … Read more

Workers in Iraq get day off as temperatures pass 50C

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  • At least 10 provinces in Iraq have suspended work for most state employees.
  • A heatwave has been ongoing since mid-July and is forecast to continue.
  • The country is one of the most vulnerable to climate change in the Middle East, according to a UN report.

On Thursday, a number of the nation’s cities topped lists of the hottest locations worldwide.

The majority of public employees’ work has been suspended in at least 10 regions due to the oppressive heat, according to Kurdistan24.

Since the middle of July, the nation has been experiencing a heatwave, and it is expected to continue.

Iraq is one of the hottest areas on Earth, thus burning heat is not uncommon there. However, locals claim that things are becoming worse.

An extended four-day holiday for state employees has started in Basra, a port city in southern Iraq where temperatures are exceptionally high.

Despite the fact that many employees’ offices are closed, many claim that their suffering will not end because frequent power outages frequently prevent access to air conditioning.

Intense dust storms have been more frequent this year, blocking the sky and forcing the suspension of services.

Due to human-induced climate change, heatwaves are now more common, more powerful, and stay longer.

Since the start of the industrial age, the world has already warmed by around 1.1C, and temperatures will continue to rise unless governments drastically reduce emissions.

The UN has listed Iraq as one of the Middle East nations most at risk from climate change.

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No sleep in Ukraine’s relentlessly bombed city

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  • Mykolaiv has been under continuous Russian bombardment since February. Residents estimate that they have only experienced 20 peaceful nights since conflict began.
  • The Russian bombardment, which has included a number of daytime attacks, has intensified over the past week. Sometimes there is a definite target, but most of the time it’s a game of chance.
  • Since February, Russian missiles have been responsible for the deaths of 130 civilians and the injuries of 589 more in Mykolaiv.

In Mykolaiv, the first night is always the most difficult. In a Ukrainian city that has been under virtually continual Russian bombardment since the war’s start in February, sleeping is practically impossible.

Your thoughts are either racing, trying desperately to determine how close the most recent explosion was, whether it was a missile or a rocket, a single explosion or a salvo, or you’re wondering when the windows will start to tremble once more and the air raid siren will start to scream.

But if outsiders like me, who have visited the city three times since the conflict started, find the long evenings difficult, how can residents, who estimate that they have only experienced 20 or so peaceful nights since the war started, possibly cope?

“Sleep? Not a lot, “stated our hotel’s manager one morning last week. When she hurried past the boarded-up windows in March to show visitors the makeshift bomb shelter in the cellar, she appeared inexhaustibly vivacious.

Her expression today, however, revealed the weariness that seems to be consuming most of Mykolaiv.

“I don’t have a cellar of my own at home. It is submerged. We have nowhere to hide, therefore. Just lying there in the pitch black. The blasts were a few blocks away last night, which was the closest yet “She spoke.

As people ready themselves immediately, unconsciously, and permanently to react to anything that may sound like a missile or a plane, once commonplace sounds like a slammed door or a growling truck are now filled with horror.

“Me? I’ve been making an effort to get to bed early. at 7 or 8 o’clock. If you’re lucky, you’ll have a few hours before the booms start this way “said Gela Chavchavadze, 60, the proprietor of a café that provides free prepared meals to neighbourhoods that were attacked the previous evening.

Usually, the explosions begin shortly after midnight. In addition to jet-launched bombs and destructive cruise missiles, there was artillery bombardment from Russian forces to the south as well as rocket fire from behind the frontlines farther east.

Sometimes there is a definite target, but most of the time, whether on purpose or by accident, the explosives happen in residential areas at random, turning every night into a terrifying game of chance.

The Russian bombardment, which has included a number of daytime attacks, has intensified over the past week.

Mykolaiv military spokesman Capt. Dmitro Pletenchuk offered some hypothetical statistical solace to visiting journalists standing close to the rubble of the city’s administrative headquarters by saying, “It’s a huge city. However, he advised us to always wear body armour and emailed me later to clarify that since February, Russian missiles had been responsible for the deaths of 130 civilians and the injuries of 589 more.

Two hours after cluster bombs detonated on the street outside, dentist Alexander Yakovenko, 58, swept glass fragments off the remains of his kitchen table and questioned why he was still alive.

“I’m at a loss for words. I shouldn’t be here [living]. Every single night, the siren sounds. But last night I made the decision to relocate out of my bedroom and into the other side of the flat for whatever reason “He pointed at the wall’s shrapnel marks, which undoubtedly would have killed him.

Olga, a neighbour who had stopped by to assist with cleanup, started crying.

“What should I tell my grandson? He cried when he woke up one night and told me, “Granny, I want to live,” “Before going back to clear more glass from the floor, she said.

“Everything is in God’s hands. What will occur will occur, “Four hours after a missile created a large crater in her yard, 67-year-old Svetlana Kharlanova stood on the doorstep of her nearly miraculously intact cottage, nursing a slight shrapnel cut to her head.

Others are turning to something that was once forbidden in Mykolaiv during the first several months of the war in order to find comfort.

“Even in the early morning hours, I now notice a large number of individuals drinking. I disagree that the alcohol ban should have been lifted. It is inappropriate during a period of conflict, “said Gela Chavhavadze, proprietor of the café.

Residents in Mykolaiv said that they are holding on.
In many regions of Ukraine, heavy drinking is a problem and a fact of life. I once witnessed a loud, slurred quarrel between two older men at a café and a drunken soldier stumble up some steps in a hotel.

But Mykolaiv-based craft brewer Dmitro Voloshchenko argued that “I don’t think we have any more issues now than we did before the prohibition was lifted. If you can control your consumption, alcohol can be quite beneficial.”

Nobody doubts the physical and psychological harm that the nightly bombardments inflict on the approximately 250,000 residents of the city who remain today, out of a pre-war population of 500,000.

“It ruins our dreams and our sleep. It impairs people’s nervous systems and results in anxiety. It’s challenging. Every night I’m awakened by both explosions and phone calls. I have nightmares of the conflict and the devastation “Oleksandr Demianov, a trauma physician who has cared for many of the victims in the city, stated.

However, there are some individuals learning to enjoy the sound of explosions at night, though not in Mykolaiv itself.

Kherson, a neighbouring city 50 kilometres (30 miles) to the southeast, is occupied by Russia. However, employing brand-new Western artillery and missiles, Ukrainian forces have started targeting Russian positions close to the city in recent weeks.

“We rejoice if we hear an explosion because we know it indicates our forces are approaching us. We are awaiting our release “said Konstantin Ryzhenko, a free-lance journalist from Ukraine who has taken refuge in Kherson.

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US police charged over shooting death

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US police officers
  • Four US police officers have been detained and charged in connection with her death.
  • Civil rights violations, illegal conspiracy, unlawful use of force, and obstruction are charges against them.

Four US police officers have been detained and charged in connection with Breonna Taylor’s deadly shooting in 2020.

In Louisville, Kentucky, Ms. Taylor was slain in her home by plainclothes officers carrying out a “no-knock” search warrant.

The 26-year-old hospital employee was with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, when police invaded the residence shortly after midnight and shot her.

Racial injustice protests spread across the nation after her death.

Former Louisville detective Brett Hankinson was the only officer engaged in the raid who had previously faced charges.

But a jury earlier this year found Mr. Hankinson not guilty despite the fact that he fired 10 shots during the encounter. He is one of the four individuals who will be charged with new crimes by the US Department of Justice.

The other two are currently employed cops Kelly Hanna Goodlett and Kyle Meany, as well as retired officer Joshua Jaynes.

The fresh accusations were made public by Attorney General Merrick Garland. He stated that civil rights violations, illegal conspiracy, unlawful use of force, and obstruction were all charges against the cops.

Three of the policemen, all but Mr. Hankinson, were charged with forging a search warrant, Mr. Garland continued.

When Mr. Hankinson fired during the raid, he is accused of employing excessive force.

Breonna Taylor ought to be alive right now, Mr. Garland told the media.

The name and address of Ms. Taylor were on the search warrant that the police had received. Authorities believed that Jamarcus Glover, an ex-boyfriend, was a member of a drug ring and had used her flat to conceal drugs.

Despite Jefferson County Prosecutor Thomas Wine’s claim that the search had been suspended following the shooting, no drugs were discovered on the premises.

The Taylor family sued the Louisville police in 2020, and they settled for $12 million (£9 million).

The family’s attorneys responded to the Thursday announcement of the fresh accusations by saying: “Today was a tremendous step toward justice.”

During the raid, Kenneth Walker shot one of the police officers in the leg after mistaking him for an intruder.

Although he was accused of trying to kill someone, the case was dropped.
Along with the deaths of two other black males, George Floyd in Minnesota and Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, Ms. Taylor’s killing provoked anti-racism demonstrations both domestically and internationally.

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China issues a warning about its rapid temperature rise relative to the world average.

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China’s average ground temperatures rise 0.26 degrees Celsius (0.47 degrees Fahrenheit) a decade since 1951, compared to the global average of 0.15 degrees. Changing weather patterns in China will affect the balance of water resources, make ecosystems more vulnerable, and reduce crop yields. According to a government official, China’s average ground temperatures have risen much … Read more

US basketball star jailed for nine years on drug charges

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Brittney Griner
  • US President Joe Biden calls the sentencing “unacceptable”.
  • Griner was detained in February at an airport near Moscow with cannabis oil in her luggage.

Griner, 31, acknowledged having cannabis oil in her possession but claimed she erred “honestly.”

However, the court found her guilty of drug trafficking and possession, and it nearly awarded her the maximum term suggested by the prosecution.

 

Griner is regarded as one of the top players in the world and has won two Olympic gold medals.

 

When vape cartridges containing cannabis oil were discovered in her luggage in February at an airport close to Moscow, she was detained. For the US off-season, she had travelled to Russia to play club basketball.

 

Soon after, Russia invaded Ukraine, and since then, her case has been the focus of prominent US-Russian diplomacy.

 

 

The sentence was labelled “inappropriate” by US Vice President Joe Biden.

 

A threat to everyone who travels, works, or lives abroad is posed by Russia, as well as any nation that engages in illegal imprisonment, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

 

I love my family, Griner reportedly said as she was led out of the courthouse in custody, according to Reuters.

 

Given that the US and Russia have been talking about a prospective prisoner swap that could include the basketball player, it is uncertain how long she will actually be imprisoned.

 

According to reports in US media, Washington may release the Merchant of Death, or imprisoned Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, to Moscow as part of the agreement.

 

The defence team for Griner announced that they would appeal the court’s decision from Khimki, near Moscow, on Thursday.

 

The American has already spent a significant amount of time in detention, the presiding judge in Khimki remarked as she read the verdict.

 

After both parties made their final arguments, Griner addressed the court and said, “I committed an honest mistake, and I hope in your judgement it does not terminate my life.”

 

She said, “I did not plan or conspire to do this crime.

 

Griner added that she was forced to use a translation software on her phone to communicate and that she had not been given access to a lawyer or a description of her rights during the first few hours of her imprisonment.

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North Korea asserts that it will “never tolerate” American accusations over its nuclear development.

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North Korea asserts that it will "never tolerate" American accusations over its nuclear development.

North Korea called the United States the “kingpin of nuclear proliferation” and said it would “never tolerate” any criticism of its nuclear programme. The statement was made during a month-long UN summit in New York to discuss the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. North Korea called the United States the “kingpin of nuclear … Read more

According to data, Russia moved up to third place among India’s coal suppliers in July.

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According to data, Russia moved up to third place among India's coal suppliers in July.
  • Since Russia invaded Ukraine, India’s imports from Russia have increased by roughly five times to over $15 billion.
  • According to two Indian importers, cement producers and steelmakers were the key drivers of higher Russian coal imports.

According to figures from the Indian consultancy Coalmint, Russia overtook China as India’s third-largest coal supplier in July as imports increased by more than a fifth from June to a record 2.06 million tonnes.

Behind Indonesia, South Africa, Australia, and the United States—with Mozambique and Colombia alternately appearing in the top five—Russia has historically been the sixth-largest coal exporter to India.

India anticipates that the recent decision by its central bank to permit payments for commodities in Indian rupees will significantly boost bilateral trade with Russia. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, India’s imports from Russia have increased by roughly five times to over $15 billion.

India, the second-largest coal producer, importer, and consumer in the world, has historically purchased more of the coking coal, which is primarily utilised in the production of steel, from Russia than from Australia.

While thermal coal, which is mostly used in power generation, has recently traded at close to record highs due to western sanctions stifling traditional commerce, huge discounts offered by Russian suppliers to Indian customers have encouraged higher buying.

According to Coalmint data, thermal coal imports from Russia increased by 70.3 percent in July compared to June to reach a record 1.29 million tonnes, while coking coal imports increased by more than two-thirds to more than 280,000 tonnes.

According to the report, South Africa just beat out Russia as the leading supplier, followed by Indonesia. According to two Indian importers, cement producers and steelmakers were the key drivers of higher Russian coal imports.

The Coalmint statistics revealed that overall Indian coal imports, including shipments of anthracite and PCI coal, were roughly 10% lower in July at 23.8 million tonnes than the record-breaking imports of 26.29 million tonnes in June.

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China launches missiles in live fire drills near Taiwan as the PLA encircles the island.

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China launches missiles in live fire drills near Taiwan as the PLA encircles the island.

Each missile hit its target precisely and all air and sea area control is now relaxed. Images show military chopper flying over Pingtan island, one of Taiwan’s closest points to China. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry has described China’s live-fire drills as a “irrational act” that sought to “alter the status quo”. The exercises have disrupted ship … Read more

Meghan Markle married Prince Harry to get ‘spotlight and title’

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  • Meghan Markle married Prince Harry for fame, royal biographer claims.
  • Former Suits star wanted to turn Royal Family into a ‘Hollywood celebrity game’, says Tom Bower.
  • Meghan did not expect realities of royal life before she returned to US in 2020, he claims.

According to a royal specialist, Meghan Markle supposedly married Prince Harry for his popularity because she wants to transform the Royal Family into a “Hollywood star game.”

Before she went to the US with Prince Harry in 2020, royal author Tom Bower expressed the opinion that the former Suits star did not anticipate the hardships of royal life.

She [Meghan] consciously moved to England and married into the Royal Family, and she must have known what that entailed, according to Bower, who was speaking on Sunrise.

She had to support the Queen, work as a team, and fulfil her role, the author said. And all she really did was whine because she yearned for attention and the top spot.

Meghan “wanted to transform the Royal Family into a Hollywood star game,” according to Tom. She probably wanted the position and the celebrity before returning to California.

The author claims that Meghan Markle’s strategy was unsuccessful since her dreams of playing the “Hollywood celebrity game” were destroyed.

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India expects $8-$9 bln in trade with Russia and Sri Lanka in two months

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  • India anticipates $8–9 billion in trade with Russia and Sri Lanka over the next two months.
  • India allowed importers and exporters to make payments in partially convertible rupee last month.
  • Exports decreased to $852.22 million from $1.34 billion in the same period.

After allowing international trade in rupees, India anticipates bilateral trade with Russia and Sri Lanka to total $8–9 billion over the following two months.

It was widely believed that the Reserve Bank of India’s decision to permit importers and exporters to make payments in the partially convertible rupee rather than in dollars last month made trading with South Asian neighbours and Russia simpler.

The sales in rupees will be a huge advantage, according to B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, who spoke to reporters late on Tuesday. “I anticipate $8 to $9 billion in trade with Russia and Sri Lanka over the next two months.”

He omitted to break down commerce by nation.

Between the end of July and February 24 when Russia attacked Ukraine, India’s imports from Russia, primarily crude oil, increased roughly five times to more than $15 billion, according to a source with firsthand knowledge of the situation.

However, due to the absence of a financial settlement system with sanctioned-hit Russia, exports decreased to $852.22 million from $1.34 billion in the same period.

Recent trade data between Sri Lanka, which is experiencing severe economic crisis, and India was not immediately available.

India, which has strong political and security connections with Russia, has refrained from criticising the country while urging an end to the violence in Ukraine. In an effort to diversify its supply, New Delhi defends its imports of Russian commodities, arguing that a sudden halt would drive up global prices and harm its consumers.

According to the most recent preliminary trade data, India reported a record trade deficit of $31.02 billion for July, three times greater than in the same period previous month. This was attributable to a decline in exports and high imports.

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US to probe claims Sikh turbans taken at border with Mexico

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  • Sikh asylum seekers’ turbans were taken away after they were stopped at the US-Mexico border, activists claim.
  • The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has stated that the CBP’s own non-discrimination regulations are in conflict with the confiscations of turbans and violate federal law.

US authorities said they are looking into claims that Sikh asylum seekers’ turbans were taken away after they were stopped at the border.

Human rights activists claim that approximately 50 migrants have had their religious headwear confiscated.

Men who practise Sikhism must wear turbans and refrain from shaving their hair.

At the US-Mexico border, detentions of migrants from India have reached record highs recently.

Many come from Punjab, an area of India where Sikhs make up more than half the population.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has stated that the CBP’s own non-discrimination regulations are in conflict with the confiscations of turbans and “blatantly violate federal law.”

It referred to the seizures as “ongoing, egregious religious-freedom breaches” in a letter that was delivered to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Chris Magnus on August 1.

According to attorney Vanessa Pineda of the ACLU of Arizona, no adequate justification has been provided for what, if any, security issues wearing a turban would cause.

She claimed that it is a part of a larger problem in which immigrants’ personal belongings are seized and destroyed without justification or replacement.

It’s simply unacceptable, she continued. “They must halt this and find an other solution. It dehumanises people.”

The CBP’s Mr. Magnus said in a statement that the border agency requires its employees to “treat all migrants we encounter with respect.”

His statement read, “An internal investigation has been initiated to resolve this situation.”

Nearly 13,000 Indian citizens have been detained by Border Patrol agents at the US-Mexico border during the fiscal year that started in October, according to CBP statistics that have been made available online.

In the Yuma sector of the Boundary Patrol, a 202 km (126 mile) stretch of desert and steep mountains that runs from California’s Imperial Sand Dunes to the border between Yuma and Pima counties in Arizona, approximately 7,000 of these individuals have been apprehended. In a high-profile case in 2019, a six-year-old Indian citizen from the Punjab was discovered dead close to the Arizona town of Lukeville.

Authorities later reported that the young child passed away from heatstroke in temperatures over 42 C (108 F), after her mother had abandoned her with another group of refugees to go for water.

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After Kansas defeat, what’s next for abortion bans?

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Kansans
  • A state-wide vote on whether to remove the right to abortion from Kansas was held on Wednesday. More than 900,000 Kansans, or almost a third of the state’s population, cast ballots.
  • 60% voted against the move, giving pro-choice supporters a landslide triumph. The failure of the anti-abortion movement in Kansas could cause other states considering similar referendums to reconsider their plans.
  • The topic could attract left-leaning voters and have an impact on not only the state’s future abortion laws but also the political make-up of the legislature.

A state-wide vote on whether to remove the right to abortion from the state’s constitution was held on Wednesday, and more than 900,000 Kansans, or almost a third of the state’s whole population, cast ballots. Many polls conducted in the months before the election projected a close result. However, when it came down to it, roughly 60% voted against the move, giving pro-choice supporters a landslide triumph.

As more states have their own referendums on abortion rights and as countrywide elections in November approach, the outcomes will have an impact on the entire nation in the coming months.

The US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade granted individual states the power to outlaw abortion. If any state should be able to pass abortion restrictions, it should be Kansas because it is a staunchly “red” state with a strong Republican base and Republican-controlled government.

However, because abortion rights are protected by the state constitution, pro-abortion lawmakers chose to bring the issue to a vote in an effort to advance more stringent legislation.

It appears that choice backfired. Although the state’s attempt to outlaw abortion may have failed, the fight goes on in other states around the nation.

Although the Kansas vote will undoubtedly have a substantial influence on women in the state, legal expert Naomi Cahn, Co-Director of the Family Law Center at the University of Virginia, claimed that its effects will extend well beyond its borders.

According to her, similar measures would likely be launched across the nation, either in an effort to protect the right or to restrict it and outlaw abortion, she told the BBC.

According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, 10 states—Arizona, Alaska, Montana, Minnesota, Kansas, New Mexico, New Jersey, California, Massachusetts, and Florida—have abortion rights codified in their state constitutions.

Despite their state constitutions, lawmakers in some of those states have stated they intend to outlaw abortions, and like Kansas, they might put the issue to a vote.

Abortion is already on the ballot in Montana for the midterm elections in November. In Kentucky, the state’s severe abortion restriction has been ping-ponged with by state courts despite the fact that the constitution does not guarantee the right to abortion. The question of whether to change the constitution to make it clear that abortion is not a right will be put to the vote in November.

In contrast, other states—most notably California and Vermont—are taking action to defend abortion rights by holding elections to add further abortion provisions to their state constitutions.

 

According to Kyle Kondik, a nonpartisan political analyst at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, the failure of the anti-abortion movement in Kansas could cause other states considering similar referendums to reconsider their plans, particularly if it could give pro-choice Democrats an advantage by inciting supporters of left-wing causes to cast ballots.

Republicans, in his opinion, “have a pretty evident vulnerability on this specific topic,” he said.

In Michigan, a so-called swing state where control frequently switches between the Democrats and the Republicans, such weakness might have significant repercussions.

Over 750,000 signatures were collected by pro-choice campaigners to put abortion rights on the November ballot. It’s possible that the topic will attract left-leaning voters and have an impact on not only the state’s future abortion laws but also the political make-up of the legislature and its congressional representatives.

According to Mr. Kondik, getting abortion rights on the ballot could become a strategy for Democrats to try and boost their voter turnout, but it’s not certain to be a success come November.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that Democratic Party principles are frequently more well-liked than Democratic Party candidates, he added.

People may go to the polls to support abortion rights, but it does not guarantee they will vote for candidates who support the freedom to choose. For instance, Mr. Kondik noted that while many voters continued to support conservative candidates for office, 37 states voted in favour of extending Medicaid in 2018, a left-leaning subject.

If lawmakers want to outlaw abortion but don’t want to risk political fallout, they might let the courts decide the matter. In Florida, where a prohibition on most abortions after 15 weeks has been contested and is its route to the state’s Supreme Court, that is what Governor Ron DeSantis has so far done.

In order to avoid linking their campaigns to a possibly unpopular notion, they might also postpone putting anti-abortion legislation on the agenda until after November.

No matter if states include abortion on the ballot or not, it is obvious that voters will think about it this fall. According to a June NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist survey, 40% of Americans supported the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade while 56% disapproved of it. In the same survey, 51% of respondents said they would be likely to vote for a congressional candidate who supported restoring abortion rights, while 36% said they would purposefully vote against such a politician.

Voters: Will they agree with the Supreme Court’s decision that abortion is not a fundamental right? Time will tell, but the court of public opinion may be unpredictable, as the Kansas results show.

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China gears up for military drills after Pelosi visit to Taiwan

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  • China declares that five days of “necessary and just” military exercises will start on Thursday. Taiwan is talking with its neighbouring countries, Japan and the Philippines, to establish alternate aviation routes and has instructed ships to find alternate routes.
  • G7 foreign ministers warn that China’s escalation risked causing regional instability. China has criticised US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, accusing the US of “violating China’s sovereignty”.
  • The US adheres to the “One China” policy, which recognises only one Chinese government and establishes diplomatic ties with Beijing rather than Taiwan.

After a brief but contentious trip to Taiwan, which China views as a renegade province, Ms. Pelosi left on Wednesday.

In retaliation, China declared that five days of “necessary and just” military exercises will start on Thursday.

 

Taiwan reported that 27 Chinese fighter jets had already flown into its air defence zone.

 

Taiwan’s defence ministry said on Wednesday that it had sent out jets to scare them off.

 

According to China, the exercises would include “long-range live ammunition shooting” and will take place in some of the busiest rivers in the world.

 

Taiwan is talking with its neighbouring countries, Japan and the Philippines, to establish alternate aviation routes and has instructed ships to find alternate routes to avoid the drills.

 

The nation was under “deliberately heightened military threats,” according to President Tsai Ing-wen.

 

The foreign ministers of the G7 countries—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US—released a unified statement in an effort to defuse the situation, warning that China’s escalation risked causing regional instability.

 

“The use of a visit as a cover for provocative military activities in the Taiwan Strait is not justified. International travel by lawmakers from our nations is common and customary “The declaration read.

Ms. Pelosi visited Taiwan as part of a larger Asian tour, becoming the highest-ranking US official to go there in the previous 25 years. China had forewarned her against visiting the island.

 

Wang Yi, the foreign minister of China, accused the US of “violating China’s sovereignty under the pretence of so-called democracy,” adding that those who play with fire will suffer the consequences of their actions.

 

China cannot “block world leaders or anybody from travelling to Taiwan to pay homage to its flourishing democracy, to highlight its many triumphs, and to reiterate our commitment to continuous collaboration,” Ms. Pelosi said in a statement following the visit.

 

President Joe Biden, a fellow US Democrat, did not support the senior politician’s trip, stating that given the current state of bilateral hostilities, it was “not a good idea right now.”

 

With its Taiwan policy, the US straddles a delicate diplomatic line. It adheres to the “One China” policy, which recognises only one Chinese government and establishes diplomatic ties with Beijing rather than Taiwan.

 

On the other hand, it keeps up a “strong unofficial” relationship with the island, selling Taiwan defence equipment.

 

What does “One China” policy entail?

Taiwan places Xi Jinping squarely in the driver’s seat.

Why are relations between China and Taiwan so bad? Taiwan and China were split apart during a civil war in the 1940s, but Beijing vows that the island will one day be recovered, possibly by force.

Who is in charge in Taiwan? The island has its own constitution, democratically elected officials, and an armed forces with roughly 300,000 active members.

Who acknowledges Taiwan? Taiwan is recognised by only a few nations. Instead, Beijing is where most people recognise the Chinese government. Despite not having diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the US is required by law to give the island the tools to defend itself.

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U.S., Iran to resume nuclear talks; U.S. expectations ‘in check’

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  • Iranian and U.S. officials will meet again to discuss renewing the 2015 nuclear agreement.
  • Iran’s top negotiator says Washington must “show maturity & act properly” in order to salvage the agreement.
  • Both sides put the onus on each other to find common ground.

Top Iranian and American officials will meet again in Vienna this week to discuss renewing the 2015 nuclear agreement, according to officials from both nations on Wednesday. Despite playing down the likelihood of a breakthrough, they put the onus on each other to find common ground.

Before leaving for Vienna, Iran’s senior negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani tweeted that Washington must “show maturity & act properly” in order to salvage the agreement. learn more

Bagheri Kani wrote, “The onus is on those who breached the deal & have failed to separate from gloomy legacy,” in reference to the U.S. decision to withdraw from the agreement under which Iran restricted its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Majid Takht Ravanchi, Iran’s U.N. ambassador, spoke at the organisation.

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Two-thirds majority of U.S. Senate backs Finland and Sweden’s joining NATO

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NATO
  • More than two-thirds of the U.S. Senate approves Finland and Sweden’s accession to NATO.
  • It is the most significant expansion of the 30-member alliance since the 1990s.
  • The move comes as NATO faces the fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The U.S. Senate gave its approval to Finland and Sweden’s membership in NATO on Wednesday, making it the 30 member alliance’s largest expansion since the 1990s as it deals with the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The final vote count was 74 to 1, easily surpassing the 67 vote threshold needed for confirmation of the two countries’ accession articles.

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Summary of recent studies on COVID-19

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Karachi experiences rise in COVID-19 infections
  • Children’s noses were less hospitable to the COVID-19 virus earlier in the epidemic than those of adults. Omicron may be more effective than earlier coronavirus variants at infecting kids through the nose.
  • The degree of smell dysfunction following coronavir infection may be a stronger indicator of long-term cognitive damage. Two-thirds of infected people had some degree of memory impairment.
  • Researchers presented their findings on Sunday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2022. States with COVID-19 vaccinations for nursing care employees in US states had the intended impact and did not face staff shortages.

Here is a summary of several recent COVID-19 investigations. They contain research that calls for additional investigation to confirm the results and that hasn’t yet been approved by peer review.

Children’s nostrils do a worse job of defending against Omicron.
According to a tiny study, the Omicron variation of the coronavirus may be more effective than earlier coronavirus variants at infecting kids through the nose.

Children’s noses were less hospitable to the COVID-19 virus earlier in the epidemic than those of adults.

In studies of the original SARS-CoV-2 and several of its derivatives, it was discovered that the virus elicited stronger immune responses in the cells lining young nostrils than in the cells lining the nasal passages of adults and that it was less successful in self-replicating in children’s noses. The antiviral defences in children’s nostrils, however, were “markedly less pronounced in the case of Omicron,” according to recent test-tube trials combining the virus with nasal cells from 23 healthy children and 15 healthy adults.

In comparison to Delta and the original virus, Omicron reproduced itself more effectively in children’s nasal-lining cells, according to their findings.

The researchers concluded in their paper that “these data are consistent with the higher number of paediatric illnesses observed during the Omicron wave” and requested more research.

After COVID-19, smell issues could indicate memory issues.
According to an Argentine study, the degree of smell dysfunction following coronavirus infection may be a stronger indicator of long-term cognitive damage than the overall severity of COVID-19.

Around 90% of the 766 adults over 60 who were included in the study’s random sample were infected with the virus. Three to six months after infection, physical, cognitive, and neuropsychiatric testing revealed that two-thirds of the infected people had some degree of memory impairment.

The researchers presented their findings on Sunday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2022, which was held online and in San Diego. After accounting for the participants’ other risk factors, the degree of anosmia, or loss of smell, “but not clinical status, significantly (predicted) cognitive impairment.”

“The better we can track it and start working on methods to prevent it, the more insight we have into what causes or at least predicts who will experience the significant long-term cognitive impact of COVID-19 infection,” study leader Gabriela Gonzalez-Aleman of Pontificia Universidad Catolica Argentina in Buenos Aires said in a statement.

Immunization laws are related to better nursing care staffing
According to a study, regulations requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for nursing care employees in US states had the intended impact and did not cause widespread resignations or a staffing shortage.

Nursing homes did, however, face staff shortages during the study period in states without such laws, researchers reported on Friday in JAMA Health Forum. Staff vaccination coverage rates ranged from 78.7 percent to 95.2 percent in the 12 states with COVID-19 vaccine mandates, according to data gathered from mid-June to mid-November 2021 by the National Healthcare Safety Network.

According to the research, states without requirements “had greater rates of reported staff shortages throughout the study period” and “consistently poorer staff immunisation coverage throughout the study window.”

The researchers noted that earlier initiatives to improve COVID-19 vaccine uptake among nursing care employees by education, outreach, and incentives were in contrast to the correlation of requirements with increased vaccination coverage. The data “suggests that the fear of huge personnel gaps related to vaccine mandates may be unwarranted,” they continued.

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Georgia offers tax credits for six-week-old embryos

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  • Georgians can now include embryos as dependents on their tax filings. Tax credits of up to $3,000 (£2,500) for those with a ‘detectable human heartbeat’.
  • Medical professionals reject the idea of a foetal “heartbeat” as false. The Biden administration has filed a lawsuit to prevent an Idaho law that would make it nearly hard to procure an abortion from taking effect.
  • Around half of US states have now either outlawed new abortion restrictions or have plans to do so. The US Department of Justice’s lawsuit against the state is the first legal action in relation to abortion.

Following the state’s ban on the majority of abortions, Georgians can now include embryos as dependents on their tax filings.

Georgia has outlawed abortions beyond six weeks of pregnancy, and as of the 20th of July or later, taxpayers who file taxes may be eligible for tax credits of up to $3,000 (£2,500).

Documentation demonstrating that the embryo has a “detectable human heartbeat” may be requested from tax payers.

The 1973 decision that guaranteed access to abortions was overturned by the US Supreme Court in June.

According to a statement released on Monday by the Georgia Department of Revenue, “any unborn child with a detectable human heartbeat… is qualified for the Georgia individual income tax dependent exemption.”

The decision, according to the agency, was made after the court judgement on July 20 that allowed Georgia’s ban on abortions after six weeks to go into force.

Even at six weeks’ gestation, many women are unaware that they are expecting. Medical professionals reject the idea of a foetal “heartbeat” as false.

What is being found at this time, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, is “a piece of the foetal tissue that will become the heart as the embryo develops.”

According to a news release from the tax authority, “like any other deduction claimed on an income tax return, necessary medical documents or other supporting evidence shall be submitted to substantiate the dependent deduction claimed, as asked by the Department.”

Legal experts have observed that it is not quite apparent what will happen if a pregnancy ends naturally at six weeks due to miscarriage.

According to Georgia State University law professor Anthony Michael Kreis, “given how high the percentage of pregnancies that result in natural miscarriages, the treasury is going to be throwing out a lot of cash for pregnancies that would never come to term.”

After contesting a fine for using a high-occupancy carpool lane, a Texas expectant mother made global headlines last month.

When Brandy Bottone’s assertion that her unborn child qualified as a passenger was denied by an officer, she was issued a ticket. “My infant is in this area. She is a human “She claimed to have told the policeman.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade after almost 50 years, around half of US states have now either outlawed new abortion restrictions or have plans to do so.

The Biden administration filed a lawsuit on Tuesday to prevent an Idaho law that would make it nearly hard to procure an abortion from taking effect later this month.

The US Department of Justice’s lawsuit against the state is the first legal action the Biden administration has taken in relation to abortion.

Attorney General Merrick Garland stated in the complaint, “If a patient comes into the emergency room with a medical emergency jeopardising the patient’s life or health, the hospital must give the care necessary to stabilise that patient.”

“This also includes abortion when it’s the only option.”

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Komodo dragons: Indonesians strike over entry price hike

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  • The cost to visit the islands in Komodo National Park has increased 18-fold.
  • The aim of the government is to control the number of tourists and protect the threatened lizards.
  • However, locals claim that it will completely scare off tourists, causing a decline in revenue.

The cost to visit the main islands in Komodo National Park has increased from 200,000 rupiah (£11) to 3,750,000 rupiah (£206.40).

The aim of the government is to control the number of tourists and save the threatened lizards from excessive human contact.

However, locals claim that it will completely scare off tourists, causing a decline in their revenue.

Approximately 3,300 of the unique Komodo dragons live in Indonesia, according to the Reuters news agency. The largest lizard in the world may reach a length of three metres and has razor-sharp fangs and a deadly bite (10 feet).

Busloads of tourists from all over the world travel to Komodo National Park to observe the endangered species in person thanks to their distinctive, dinosaur-like look, with 220,000 doing so in 2019.

The local government expects that by raising the ticket charges, this number would drop and the islands will once again belong to their rightful owners, the dragons.

700 local employees that depend on tourism in response are going on strike through the end of August.

A nearby tour operator, Servianus Setiawan, claimed that the proposals endangered villagers who relied on tourism for their livelihood.

“Please come up with a reasonable amount so we can maintain Komodo dragons and so people whose livelihood depends on tourism can exist,” he said to the AFP news agency. “We support Komodo conservation.”

Viktor Laiskodat, the local governor, told AFP that although information about the fare rise might have been better disseminated, the 18-fold price increase will nonetheless go ahead.

In an effort to safeguard the endangered dragon species, local officials have made a variety of measures to restrict the number of visitors to the island.

Authorities had once intended to fully forbid visitors from entering the park, but in 2019 they floated proposals to restrict access to those who had paid for an expensive membership programme.

500 islands make up the East Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia, where the Komodo National Park is located.

Given that it is one of the poorest areas in the Indonesian archipelago, the local economy depends heavily on tourism.

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Stephen King testifies against merger of publishing giants

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  • Stephen King testified in an anti-trust trial to stop the merger of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster.
  • The merger between the two largest US publishers would have resulted in fewer books being published, the Justice Department claimed.
  • Both publishing houses argued that there would be no reduction in competition.

In an anti-trust trial to stop the $2.2 billion merger of the two largest US publishers, the author served as the key witness.

King was asked to testify by the US Department of Justice regarding the potential effects of the proposed merger between Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster on authors.

The action “would be terrible for competition in the business,” King, 75, told the court in Washington, DC.

Both publishing houses contend that since they would continue to compete for the right to publish novels after the merger is complete, there would be no reduction in competition.

King, a publishing veteran with 50 years of experience, referred to that notion as “a little bit ludicrous.”

According to reporters present in court, the novelist joked, “You might as well say you’re going to have a husband and wife bidding against each other for the same house.”

Since the release of his debut book, Carrie, in 1974, Stephen King has written more than 70 books, including cult favourites like The Shining and It, which have collectively sold more than 350 million copies.

King has also become more active on social media in the last ten years, engaging with followers and frequently urging his 6.8 million Twitter followers to support small and local bookstores.

Penguin Random House and Paramount Global, the parent company of Simon & Schuster, declared intentions to merge in November 2020.

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit to stop the acquisition a year later. The government of US President Joe Biden has made increasing competition a key component of its economic strategy.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland stated after the case was announced, “American authors and consumers will pay the price of this anticompetitive merger – smaller advances for authors and ultimately fewer books and less diversity for consumers.”

These accusations have been refuted by the merger’s attorneys, who assert that blocking the deal “would hurt the very authors DOJ pretends to defend.”

According to Daniel Petrocelli, Penguin’s main counsel in the trial, “the DOJ has not found, and it does not allege, that the combination will lessen competition in the sale of books.”

We are optimistic that the strong and competitive market will ensure that the purchase will strengthen rather than weaken competition.

Legal action against anti-trust violations aims to stop mergers and acquisitions from establishing market monopolies or engaging in anti-competitive behaviour like price-fixing.

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First grain ship out of Ukraine cleared to sail to Lebanon

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grain ship
  • The Razoni and its 26,000 tonnes of corn cargo have been inspected by a joint UN-Russian inspection team.
  • The ship sailed for the Lebanese port of Tripoli on Monday from the Ukrainian port of Odesa.
  • Russia has blocked Ukraine’s ports, worsening the world food crisis.

The crew of the Razoni and its 26,000 tonnes of corn cargo were examined by a team of representatives from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the UN.

The ship could depart for Lebanon on Wednesday, according to the UN.

 

Since its invasion in February, Russia has blocked Ukraine’s ports, worsening the world food crisis.

 

Both parties agreed that shipments may continue under a deal mediated by Turkey and the UN last month, which established a Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) to supervise exports.

 

The Razoni sailed for the Lebanese port of Tripoli on Monday from the Ukrainian port of Odesa.

 

The crew and cargo are as authorised and compatible with the information the JCC received before the vessel sailed from Odesa, the inspection team said on Wednesday after a three-hour inspection.

 

“The joint inspection team had the chance to speak with the crew and learn important details about the ship’s voyage in the JCC-approved maritime humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea.

 

The JCC will use this trip as part of its continuous efforts to optimise policies and procedures to ensure the Initiative’s continued safe passage of commercial ships through the Black Sea.

 

According to Ukraine, its naval ships will direct cargo ships through mined waterways.

 

Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, has stated that he wants to see grain exports resume on a regular basis. He expressed the hope that exports will motivate Ukrainian farmers to plant seeds for the upcoming season in addition to reducing food shortages elsewhere.

 

 

Following the safe return of the Razoni, 17 additional grain ships are reportedly ready to depart Ukrainian ports throughout the Black Sea.

 

After two months of discussions, a deal was reached between Russia and Ukraine at the end of July. However, less than 24 hours after it was announced, Russia launched two missiles towards the port of Odesa, casting doubt on the arrangement.

 

Although there is little trust on either side, if the agreement is followed, it will last 120 days and can be extended if both parties agree.

 

Together, Russia and Ukraine export about a third of the world’s wheat.

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