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[
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:56:10+00:00 | 2021-08-19 13:31:19 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fsports%2Folympic-champ-korda-shares-lead-at-womens-british-open%2F.json | en | United States’ Nelly Korda looks at her putt on the 18th green during the first round of the Women’s British Open golf championship, in Carnoustie, Scotland, Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (AP) — Nelly Korda’s sensational summer form is showing no sign of dipping.
Two weeks after winning a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, the top-ranked Korda began her bid for a second major title in two months by shooting 5-under 67 to share the first-round lead at the Women’s British Open on Thursday.
Korda rolled in a 5-foot putt at No. 18 at Carnoustie for her eighth birdie of a round that also contained three bogeys in overcast, chilly but largely wind-free conditions over the links in eastern Scotland. She was later joined on 5 under by Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom, who has never recorded a top-10 finish at a major, and South Korea’s Sei Young Kim, a major champion last year and the No. 4.
The 23-year-old Korda is the new superstar of women’s golf, having climbed to No. 1 by winning the PGA Championship in June and followed that up by winning the Olympic golf tournament in Tokyo this month. The American has four wins in 14 events in 2021 and said she has a “target on my back” for the last of the five majors.
“I try to take the mindset of every day’s a new day,” said Korda, who is a combined 87 under par for her last 21 rounds. “It doesn’t matter what my ranking is. Everyone’s going into this event prepared and wanting to win.
“That’s kind of like the mindset that I try to take into every event.”
The Women’s Open is her first event since the Olympics and she carried the momentum to Carnoustie, holing a left-to-right 20-footer for birdie at No. 3 — the first of three birdies in a four-hole span to immediately throw down the challenge to her rivals.
Korda, who wore bulky, oven-style mitts between shots at times during chilly morning conditions that contrasted with what she experienced in Tokyo, rebounded from her second bogey of the day, at No. 12, by making a downhill putt for birdie at the next and picked up another shot at the par-5 14th after reaching the green in two.
She finished birdie-birdie by hitting her approach close at No. 18 with an 8-iron from the center of the fairway.
“Very happy,” Korda said of her start. “Honestly, we didn’t have much wind today. It was very chilly in the morning — that was the only thing against us. Other than that, the wind kept calm and I took advantage of it.”
Korda has been on the road for six weeks, because of her appearances at the Evian Championship in France — the fourth major of the year, where she placed 19th — and then the Olympics, where she had a one-shot victory.
“A little tired but I am going to give it my all these next three day, go home next week, and have one week at home. Sleep in my bed for the first time in six weeks — that will be nice,” she said. “And then Solheim and we start up again.”
The 77th-ranked Sagstrom was playing in a group containing European Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew, just behind Korda, and will have left a positive impression ahead of the naming of the six wild-card selections on Monday.
She birdied four of her first six holes and twice held a two-shot lead on her back nine. She kept her round going with some decisive par putts but couldn’t do so at No. 18 after finding a bunker to the right of the fairway off the tee. She hit out to leave herself a tough up-and-down for par, but leaked her par putt right.
“Of course I want to show off my game to her, I can’t deny that,” Sagstrom said of Matthew. “I mean, I’m playing well at the moment. Who knows where her mind is at right now?”
Kim is in the mix at another major having won one for the first time at the PGA Championship last year. She also finished third at the ANA Inspiration in April.
Her only dropped shot was at the par-4 15th, which she reached in the lead after making birdie at No. 14 to move to 6 under.
Georgia Hall of England, the 2018 champion, bogeyed the last to drop out of the lead and to 4 under alongside an unheralded playing partner in 21-year-old Scottish amateur Louise Duncan, who goes to Stirling University in Scotland.
“It was a ridiculous amount of fun, I wasn’t expecting that at all,” said Duncan, who made an eagle and four birdies. “I was so nervous at the start. I was shaking and could barely put the ball on the tee. To actually make contact and it go straight was a bonus.”
Former major champion Lexi Thompson was in a group at 3 under, while defending champion Sophia Popov chipped in for birdie at No. 1 on her way to shooting even-par 72.
___
More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | www.wavy.com | Olympic champ Korda shares lead at Women’s British Open | https://www.wavy.com/sports/olympic-champ-korda-shares-lead-at-womens-british-open/ |
||||||
[
"Morgan Freeman",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:52:49+00:00 | 2021-08-19 12:56:34 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Fcamping-outdoors-br%2Fgear-br%2Fthe-ultimate-tailgating-checklist-everything-you-need%2F.json | en | Canopies, lanterns and blankets can keep the fun going rain or shine, and games like cornhole keep the entire family engaged.
The ultimate tailgating checklist
Tailgating is a fun way to show off your team pride and have a great time before a game. To ensure you and your family and friends have the best experience possible, it’s important to check that you have everything you’ll need.
Some essentials, like grills, are an obvious item on the checklist, but going beyond the basics can keep you entertained and comfortable, no matter the situation. Canopies, lanterns and blankets can keep the fun going rain or shine, and games like cornhole can keep the entire family engaged.
Everything you need for tailgating
Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett Sense Mate Wood Pellet Tailgating Grill
This grill is easily portable, weighing only 57 pounds. It has foldable legs that make it simple to fit inside the trunk of a car. There are several ways to power the grill: power cable, battery or car adapter. It also has Wi-Fi features that allow for constant temperature monitoring, even from a distance.
Sold by Amazon
YETI Tundra 65 Cooler
The YETI Tundra 65 Cooler is one of the best on the market. It’s made to be indestructible and reliable. With 3 inches of insulation, this cooler holds cold for extended periods of time and also can be used for hauling hot meats.
Sold by Amazon and Dick’s Sporting Goods
New Star Foodservice Stainless Steel BBQ Tool Set
This grilling set includes tongs, a spatula, a cleaning brush and a fork made from stainless steel and wood. It’s a great value for sturdy, reliable grilling tools. This set should cover any basic grilling needs at a tailgate.
Sold by Amazon
Jolly Green Products Ekogrips Premium Heat-Resistant BBQ Gloves
These sturdy heat-resistant gloves are great for protecting your hands while grilling. They’re non-slip, dishwasher-safe and tear-resistant. Their silicone material makes them resistant to stains and odors. They have excellent grip while also allowing for dexterity.
Sold by Amazon
BBQ Bros. Rubs Ultimate Barbecue Spices Seasoning Set
This set of BBQ rubs comes with Carolina, Memphis and New Orleans-style seasonings. Highly rated, these rubs work for different types of grilling. They’re free of gluten and MSG.
Sold by Amazon
Axim USA Bottle Openers, 3-Pack
These bottle openers are sturdy and reliable and ensure there’s more than one bottle opener to go around. They’re crafted from stainless steel and have a rubber-coated handle.
Sold by Amazon
Tupperware One-Touch Reminder 4-Piece Canister Set
This Tupperware set has plenty of space for all your tailgating leftovers and small peep windows so you can see what’s stored inside each container. This set is budget-friendly and well-made, as well as being dishwasher-safe.
Sold by Amazon
EZ Up Sierra II Canopy
This canopy is lightweight, only weighing 35 pounds, and has a fast, easy setup. It can provide up to 6 feet of shade with its angled design. It’s fire- and water-resistant and provides 99% UV protection. This tent also has two different height settings for your varied needs.
Sold by Amazon
Coleman Quad Portable Camp Chair with 4-Can Cooler
This excellently priced camp chair is comfortable and durable. It has an attached cooler/storage area that can hold up to four cans. It also has a cushioned seat and back and attached cupholder.
Sold by Amazon
National Public Seating Heavy-Duty Folding Table
This durable table holds up to 1,000 pounds and comes with a 10-year warranty. The 18-gauge steel legs fold for easy storage. Priced in the mid-range, it’s a great buy for the money.
Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Lighting EVER LED Camping Lantern
This lantern has an output of 1,000 lumens. It has 4 different light settings and up to 12 hours of battery life. The lantern can also be used as a power bank for your smartphone and other gadgets. It is also water resistant and is perfect for outdoors.
Sold by Amazon
PortableAnd Extra-Large Picnic & Outdoor Blanket
This fleecy blanket is easily portable and has a PEVA waterproof backing. It’s large enough to fit several adults as a picnic blanket or its fleece side can be used for warmth. It’s worth noting that it can only be spot-cleaned.
Sold by Amazon
Coleman Camping Expedition First Aid Kit
This first aid kit is reasonably priced and should cover all basic first aid needs. It comes with 205 pieces, including gauze, bandages, pads and antiseptic wipes. All items come in a semi-hard case.
Sold by Amazon
Murphy’s Naturals Mosquito Repellent Candle
This candle has a pleasant smell, made from lemongrass, peppermint, rosemary, cedarwood and citronella oils. The waxes are all-natural, and the candle burns for 30 hours. Its tin containers come with lids for easy transport.
Sold by Amazon
GoSports Portable Cornhole Game Set
A portable, lightweight cornhole set perfect for a tailgate. Sized to work for both adults and children, this set comes with two boards and six bags. The boards loop together for easy movement.
Sold by Amazon and Wayfair
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
This speaker has 360-degree sound. Its waterproof and drop-proof design makes it great for outdoor use. It has 13 hours of battery life and floats in water. It can be paired with another Wonderboom speaker for mono or stereo mode.
Sold by Amazon
Discraft Ultra-Star 175-Gram Super Color Ultra-Star Disc
This 175-gram disc has a fun wrap and is perfect for all frisbee games. It’s the official disc of the USA Ultimate Championship Series.
Sold by Amazon
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Morgan Freeman writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | www.wavy.com | The ultimate tailgating checklist: Everything you need | https://www.wavy.com/reviews/br/camping-outdoors-br/gear-br/the-ultimate-tailgating-checklist-everything-you-need/ |
||||||
[
"Nomaan Merchant",
"Zeke Miller",
"Associated Press",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:48:48+00:00 | 2021-08-19 04:13:22 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fmisread-warnings-helped-lead-to-chaotic-afghan-evacuation-2%2F.json | en | President Joe Biden turns to leave after speaking from the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Aug 18, 2021, on the COVID-19 response and vaccination program. U.S. health officials Wednesday announced plans to offer COVID-19 booster shots to all Americans to shore up their protection amid the surging delta variant and signs that the vaccines’ effectiveness is falling. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The warnings were clear: The Afghan government would likely fall once U.S. troops pulled out. But intelligence agencies and ultimately President Joe Biden missed how quickly it would happen, losing weeks that could have been used for evacuations and spurring a foreign policy crisis.
Without a sense that the country could collapse so quickly, the administration heard out Afghan President Ashraf Ghani when he met face-to-face with Biden in June. Biden says Ghani pressed him to hold off on any urgent evacuation of Americans, arguing that it would be inviting the Taliban to advance more quickly — as it turned out they did anyway– and telling the Afghan army to give up.
It was an ask that Biden heeded, despite more than a decade of deep-rooted skepticism of the competence of the Afghan government and military, marred by widespread corruption and mismanagement.
Biden on Wednesday blamed Ghani for fleeing the country and Afghan forces for surrendering so easily to the Taliban. He told ABC News that he believed the problems with the withdrawal were inevitable.
“The idea that somehow, there’s a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I don’t know how that happens,” he said.
U.S. officials estimate that as many as 10,000 Americans remain in Afghanistan, and tens of thousands of Afghans who fought alongside or aided the U.S. in the nearly two-decade occupation are struggling to get out.
Biden’s assertion on Monday that some Afghans, “still hopeful for their country,” didn’t want to leave has been widely criticized. The State Department has a backlog of tens of thousands of visa applications from those who have been trying for years to depart the country ahead of the U.S. withdrawal. That is now set for Aug. 31, though Biden said Wednesday Americans would not be left behind.
While analysts have long warned that the Afghan government would be in grave danger without American support, they didn’t anticipate the speed at which it would fall to the Taliban.
That miss is sparking instant reviews of what went wrong, current and former U.S. officials said, speaking only on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the subject.
As recently as two weeks ago, intelligence agencies in briefings to lawmakers gave no warning that the Afghan government faced imminent collapse, an official familiar with the briefings said.
A defense estimate that Kabul could be surrounded within 30 days — an assessment that was viewed as pessimistic when it was reported last week — turned out instead to be far too optimistic. In just over a week, the Taliban overran the country and entered Kabul without a fight. Ghani and his top aides fled.
Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, insisted Wednesday that he had no indication of the speed of the Afghan collapse.
“There was nothing that I or anyone else saw that indicated a collapse of this army, and this government, in 11 days,” he said.
One senior intelligence official said agencies did identify the risk of a rapid collapse of the Afghan government and grew “more pessimistic” during the last several months of the Afghan fighting season.
“That said, the Afghan government unraveled even more quickly than we anticipated,” the official said.
Analysts have for years warned that the American withdrawal would destabilize Afghan forces trained at great U.S. expense and still heavily reliant on U.S. air power and intelligence gathering, current and former officials said. Withdrawal also would risk damaging the morale of Afghan units who had fought alongside U.S. and coalition forces for two decades and would be left to face a resurgent Taliban on their own.
A public threat assessment in April warned that Afghan forces “will struggle to hold the Taliban at bay if the coalition withdraws support.”
One administration official said the intelligence community had reported to the White House that a rapid military collapse following the withdrawal would be possible as the Taliban took key provincial capitals. In fact, that occurred within a matter of days leading up to the fall of Kabul.
And the anticipated danger was not limited to Afghanistan itself. Analysts had also warned that new terrorist threats would likely emerge from the country if the Taliban were to take power. According to a former official, one assessment predicted that a large-scale terrorist attack could be planned in Afghanistan within one to three years of the withdrawal.
Many have blamed an intelligence failure for failing to anticipate the speed with which the Afghan government would collapse. Some current and former intelligence officers have pushed back.
Marc Polymeropoulos, who served in the CIA for nearly three decades, said that the intelligence community had always been clear amid a renewed focus on the mistaken 30-day time frame.
“Whether it’s six days or 30 days, I don’t see the IC as ever having made any kind of rosy predictions or cherry-picked at all,” he said.
But Chris Miller, who deployed to Afghanistan in 2001 and later was the nation’s top counterterrorism official and acting defense secretary under former President Donald Trump, called the missed speed “an intelligence failure of cataclysmic proportions.”
“We have something fundamentally wrong with the way we do our intelligence assessments in our country,” he said. “It’s cultural and technological arrogance. This was so predictable how this was going to go down.”
Other elements of the U.S. government were pushing Americans and others to leave months ago, with ever-more-dire warnings, culminating with an urgent Aug. 7 State Department plea for them to leave, offering to provide funding for Americans to get out of Afghanistan.
Some U.S. officials believe they may have bought into the leaked intelligence assessment that the Afghan government could hold onto Kabul for a month or longer. Officials maintain that those assessments were not released publicly, and were only best estimates. For all of the focus on intelligence failures, the officials say the State Department warnings should have pushed most Americans to leave Afghanistan weeks ago.
Now, the U.S. is working with the Taliban to ensure safe passage for Americans and Afghans who helped the 20-year war effort and are frantically trying to reach Kabul’s international airport. As the Taliban take hold, the State Department has said it cannot guarantee them safe passage to the airport.
___
Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report. | www.wavy.com | Misread warnings helped lead to chaotic Afghan evacuation | https://www.wavy.com/news/politics/misread-warnings-helped-lead-to-chaotic-afghan-evacuation-2/ |
||||||
[
"Mark Stevenson",
"Evens Sanon",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:51:43+00:00 | 2021-08-19 04:13:10 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Ftensions-over-aid-grow-in-haiti-as-quakes-deaths-pass-2k%2F.json | en | People injured in a car accident, sitting right, wait with others injured during the earthquake for x-rays at the General Hospital in Les Cayes, Haiti, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
LES CAYES, Haiti (AP) — Relief for the victims of a powerful earthquake and tropical storm began flowing more quickly into Haiti on Thursday, but the Caribbean nation’s entrenched poverty, insecurity and lack of basic infrastructure were still presenting huge challenges to getting food and urgent medical care to all those who need it.
Private relief supplies and shipments from the U.S. government and others were arriving in the southwestern peninsula where the weekend quake struck, killing more than 2,100 people. But the need was extreme, made worse by the rain from Tropical Storm Grace, and people were growing frustrated with the slow pace.
Adding to the problems, a major hospital in the capital of Port-au-Prince, where many of the injured were being sent, was closed Thursday for a two-day shutdown to protest the kidnapping of two doctors, including one of the country’s few orthopedic surgeons.
The abductions dealt a blow to attempts to control criminal violence that has threatened disaster response efforts in the capital.
Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency late Wednesday raised the number of deaths from the earthquake to 2,189 and said 12,268 people were injured. More than 300 people are estimated to still be missing, said Serge Chery, head of civil defense for the Southern Province, which includes the hard-hit small port city of Les Cayes.
The magnitude 7.2 earthquake damaged or destroyed more than 100,000 homes, leaving about 30,000 families homeless, according to official estimates. Hospitals, schools, offices and churches also were demolished or badly damaged.
The U.S. aid effort has been building since the initial hours after the earthquake. On Thursday, 10 U.S. military helicopters ferried in search and rescue teams, medical workers and supplies that had been pre-positioned in Haiti by the U.S. Agency for International Development after the devastating 2010 earthquake.
A Navy ship, the USS Arlington, was expected to arrive this weekend, said Adm. Craig Faller, who oversees the military response as commander of Miami-based U.S. Southern Command.
“We’ve got the momentum now,” Faller said. “We’ve got the assets in place. We’ve figured out logistics.”
The U.S. government is still working with Haitian authorities and others to determine the extent of the damage and casualties. Faller said a U.S. Geological Survey assessment projected there could be more than 10,000 deaths.
One of the U.S. helicopters landed Thursday in Les Cayes with equipment, medicine and volunteers, including some from the aid group Samaritan’s Purse. Monte Oitker, a biomedical technician with the organization, said volunteers were prepared to operate a self-contained hospital unit, capable of handling a variety of orthopedic procedures.
Distributing aid to the thousands left homeless could be more challenging.
Chery said officials are hoping to start clearing sites where homes were destroyed to allow residents to build temporary shelters.
“It will be easier to distribute aid if people are living at their addresses, rather than in a tent,” he said.
While some officials have suggested an end to the search for survivors so that heavy machinery can clear all of the rubble, Prime Minister Ariel Henry appeared unwilling to move to that stage.
“Some of our citizens are still under the debris. We have teams of foreigners and Haitians working on it,” he said.
He also appealed for unity.
“We have to put our heads together to rebuild Haiti,” Henry said. “The country is physically and mentally destroyed.”
Tension over the slow distribution of aid has become increasingly evident in the area hit hardest by Saturday’s quake. At the small airport in Les Cayes, people thronged a perimeter fence Wednesday as aid was loaded into trucks and police fired warning shots to disperse a crowd of young men.
Angry crowds also massed at collapsed buildings in the city, demanding tarps to create temporary shelters after Grace’s heavy rain. Also in Les Cayes, 22 prisoners escaped from the jail after the quake hit, said National Police spokeswoman Marie-Michelle Verrier.
International aid workers said hospitals in the worst-hit areas are mostly incapacitated, which is why many patients need to be moved to the capital for treatment. But reaching Port-au-Prince from the southwest is difficult under normal conditions because of poor roads and gangs along the route.
Even with a supposed gang truce following the earthquake, kidnapping remains a threat — underscored by the seizure of the two doctors working at the private Bernard Mevs Hospital in Port-au-Prince, where about 50 quake victims were being treated.
And another problem emerged in the quake-damaged southern provinces, where national police said villagers put up barricades on the roads to prevent aid from getting through, arguing that they need help too.
“For those people who are blocking roads at their leisure to stop it (aid) from getting through to the people, you need to wait until the aid comes to you,” Verrier said. She said special police units would escort aid shipments.
So far, the U.S. military has found the roads it needs to be open and has encountered no security issues from gangs, Faller said in an interview with The Associated Press. The Arlington will come equipped not just with a surgical team to treat victims but a Marine Corps rapid reaction security force that will stay on the ship unless needed.
“They are an insurance policy, frankly,” Faller said. “Marines are trained for that and they’re trained for the appropriate use of force. And there’s a deterrent value to having them in the area, as well. And we intend to be ready.”
Jerry Chandler, the head of the national civil defense agency, said the Haiti National Police presence has also been “an important step to help us move the aid.”
Chandler said his agency also has boats and helicopters “to bring aid and bring it quickly” to certain areas.
A group of 18 Colombian volunteer search-and-rescue workers had to be escorted out of the quake-hit city of Jeremie under police protection after a rumor circulated that they had been involved in the July 7 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. The workers took shelter Wednesday night at a civil defense office, and police escorted them to the airport on Thursday.
Moise’s killing, still unsolved, is suspected of being carried out by a group of Colombian mercenaries. Despite what happened to the Colombian rescue workers, Haiti is welcoming “everyone who is coming to bring assistance,” Chandler said.
Henry said Wednesday that his administration will try not to “repeat history on the mismanagement and coordination of aid,” a reference to the country’s devastating 2010 earthquake, when the government and international partners struggled to channel help to the needy amid the widespread destruction and misery.
The Core Group, a coalition of key international diplomats from the U.S. and other nations that monitors Haiti, said in a statement Wednesday that its members are “resolutely committed to working alongside national and local authorities to ensure that impacted people and areas receive adequate assistance as soon as possible.”
___
Associated Press writer Ben Fox in Washington contributed to this report. | www.wavy.com | Aid flows a bit more quickly into Haiti; challenges remain | https://www.wavy.com/news/world/tensions-over-aid-grow-in-haiti-as-quakes-deaths-pass-2k/ |
||||||
[
"Raf Casert",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:49:49+00:00 | 2021-08-19 18:27:49 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fallies-embraced-biden-did-kabul-lay-bare-great-illusion%2F.json | en | FILE – In this June 14, 2021 file photo, President Joe Biden and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speak while visiting a memorial to the September 11 terrorist attacks at NATO headquarters in Brussels. When U.S. President Joe Biden took office early this year, Western allies were falling over themselves to welcome and praise him and hail a new era in trans-Atlantic cooperation. The collapse of Kabul certainly put a stop to that. Even some of his biggest fans are now churning out criticism. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
BRUSSELS (AP) — Well before U.S. President Joe Biden took office early this year, the European Union’s foreign policy chief sang his praises and hailed a new era in cooperation. So did almost all of Washington’s Western allies.
The EU’s Josep Borrell was glad to see the end of the Trump era, with its America First, and sometimes America Only policy, enthralled by Biden’s assertion that he would “lead, not merely by the example of our power, but by the power of our example.”
Sunday’s collapse of Kabul, triggered by Biden’s decision to get out of Afghanistan and a U.S. military unable to contain the chaos since, certainly put a stop to that. Even some of his biggest fans are now churning out criticism.
Borrell was among them, this time aghast at Biden’s contention that “our mission in Afghanistan was never supposed to have been nation-building,” coming in the wake of Western efforts over much of the past two decades to sow the seeds of the rule of law and assure protection for women and minorities.
“State-building was not the purpose? Well, this is arguable,” a dejected Borrell said of Biden’s stance, which has come under criticism in much of Europe.
And for many Europeans steeped in soft power diplomacy to export Western democratic values, Biden’s assertion that, “our only vital national interest in Afghanistan remains today what it has always been: preventing a terrorist attack on American homeland,” could have come from a Trump speech.
EU Council President Charles Michel underscored the different stances when he said in a tweet Thursday that the “rights of Afghanis, notably women & girls, will remain our key concern: all EU instruments to support them should be used.”
French Parliamentarian Nathalie Loiseau, a former Europe minister for President Emmanuel Macron, put the unexpected EU-Biden disconnect more bluntly: “We lived a little bit the great illusion,” she said. “We thought America was back, while in fact, America withdraws.”
It was no better in Germany, where a leading member of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-right Union bloc, Bavaria Gov. Markus Soeder, called on Washington to provide funding and shelter to those fleeing Afghanistan, since “the United States of America bear the main responsibility for the current situation.”
Even in the United Kingdom, which has always prided itself on a its “special relationship” with Washington and now, more than ever, needs U.S. goodwill to overcome the impact of leaving the EU, barbs were coming from all angles.
Former British Army chief Richard Dannatt said, “the manner and timing of the Afghan collapse is the direct result of President Biden’s decision to withdraw all U.S. forces from Afghanistan by the 20th anniversary of 9/11.”
“At a stroke, he has undermined the patient and painstaking work of the last five, 10, 15 years to build up governance in Afghanistan, develop its economy, transform its civil society and build up its security forces,” Dannatt said Wednesday in Parliament.
“The people had a glimpse of a better life — but that has been torn away.”
Biden has pointed to the Trump administration deal negotiated with the Taliban 18 months earlier in Doha, Qatar, which he says bound him to withdraw U.S. troops, as setting the stage for the chaos now engulfing the country.
Still, Biden putting much of the blame on Afghan forces for not protecting their nation has not gone down well with Western allies, either.
Conservative Parliament member Tom Tugendhat, who fought in Afghanistan, was one of several British lawmakers taking offense.
“To see their commander-in-chief call into question the courage of men I fought with, to claim that they ran, is shameful,” Tugendhat said.
Chris Bryant, from the opposition Labour Party, called Biden’s remarks about Afghan soldiers, “some of the most shameful comments ever from an American president.”
In Prague this week, Czech president Milos Zeman said that, “by withdrawing from Afghanistan, the Americans have lost their status of global leader.”
But despite all the criticism, there is no doing without the United States on the global stage. America remains vital to the Western allies in a series of other issues, in particular taking action against global warming.
After climate change disasters across much of the globe this year, the EU will be counting heavily on Biden to stand shoulder-to- shoulder in taking effective measures at the November COP26 global conference in Glasgow, Scotland, to speed up action to counter global warming.
Europe and Washington also have enough trade disagreements to settle to realize that despite the debacle of Afghanistan, there is much more that unites than divides them. A need for American power and help remains, even in Afghanistan.
Before Friday’s meeting of NATO foreign ministers, some Alliance nations have acknowledged they will be pleading to Washington to stay even longer in Afghanistan than it will take to bring all U.S. citizens home, wanting to make sure their people get out too.
“We and a number of other countries are going to the Americans to say: ‘Stay as long as possible, possibly longer than necessary,’” Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigrid Kaag said.
____
Associated Press writers Mike Corder in The Hague, Netherlands; Sylvia Hui in London; Karel Janicek in Prague and Colleen Barry in Milan contributed. | www.wavy.com | Allies embraced Biden. Did Kabul lay bare “great illusion”? | https://www.wavy.com/news/world/allies-embraced-biden-did-kabul-lay-bare-great-illusion/ |
||||||
[
"Greg Beacham",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:56:17+00:00 | 2021-08-19 22:05:15 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fsports%2Fraiders-rams-end-joint-practice-early-after-prolonged-fight%2F.json | en | THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams’ second joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders ended early when the teams had a prolonged brawl Thursday.
The fight began during special teams work, and it started and stopped several times before coaches Sean McVay and Jon Gruden decided to scrap the remaining periods of practice, which had been scheduled to last for another 45 minutes.
“Everybody knows better,” Gruden said. “It wasn’t everybody fighting. It’ll be on TV. You’ll see a bunch of guys screaming and yelling, but it was two guys in a special teams period, and then it was a lot of trash talking that just escalated. Just sickening, really, it’s just stupidity, but I’m done with that. It’s just child’s play to me.”
The culprits weren’t easily identified in the mass of players working on punt blocking and punt coverage outside the Rams’ training complex, but punches appeared to be thrown by both teams.
Gruden and McVay weren’t pleased by the disruption to the practice plan for the Raiders and the Rams, who will meet again in a preseason game Saturday night at SoFi Stadium. When the fight finally calmed, Gruden could be heard ordering his players off the field: “To the bus!”
McVay, Gruden’s employee in Tampa Bay 13 seasons ago, called the skirmish “unfortunate.” The Rams finished up the practice against themselves while the Raiders boarded buses back to their hotel.
“I did think that there was a lot of good work that we were getting in,” McVay said. “We only had a little bit left, and it felt like the best decision, just based on kind of the temperature of the situation, was (to) bag the last eight plays in the team period that we had.”
All-Pro Aaron Donald took a rest day for the Rams, but he wasn’t surprised to see what happened from the sideline.
“It’s football, man,” Donald said. “Honestly, every joint practice I’ve ever been a part of, there’s always a fight. The way things happened yesterday, how physical it was, I was pretty sure it was going to come back and be a lot of BS.”
The teams had a few minor scraps in Wednesday’s first practice, but nothing that significantly interrupted the flow. The Raiders’ defense was the biggest winner from the opening practice, putting together a solid performance against the Rams’ reconfigured offense under quarterback Matthew Stafford.
One brouhaha Wednesday started after Raiders running back Josh Jacobs received a zealous hit from All-Pro Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Jacobs later tweeted: “Love this team.”
“(It was) definitely about how the whole situation was handled,” Jacobs said when asked what his tweet meant. “If you look at our guys and see how we reacted, and see their guys and how they just let some things happen … I mean, I like the fact our team got the fighting spirit, and not only that, but they had each other’s back.”
Although the fight wasn’t caused by the historic rivalry between these two venerable franchises, it was somewhat of a reflection of that tension. The Rams and Raiders play in different divisions, but they have a joint history with Los Angeles that continues even today, 27 years after the Raiders left town.
The Raiders are still probably the most popular team in the metropolitan area because of their Generation X and early-millennial fans from the franchise’s mostly successful 13-year run at the Coliseum while the Rams were based in Anaheim.
The Rams are the most popular team located in the LA market since they returned home five years ago, but overtaking the Raiders could require a generational shift.
The Rams and Raiders only have to wait until Saturday for the next chapter of their rivalry. Thousands of Raiders fans are expected at SoFi.
“Emotions get a little bit higher when you introduce another team, but we got to try to overcome that,” said Raiders offensive tackle Kolton Miller, a UCLA product. “Definitely we have each other’s backs. But it’s something we don’t want it to get in the way of practice.”
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | www.wavy.com | Raiders, Rams end joint practice early after prolonged fight | https://www.wavy.com/sports/raiders-rams-end-joint-practice-early-after-prolonged-fight/ |
||||||
[
"Jenna Fryer",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:56:03+00:00 | 2021-08-19 19:56:26 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fsports%2Fnascars-covid-19-protocols-sideline-lajoie-for-michigan%2F.json | en | Corey LaJoie will miss Sunday’s race at Michigan because of NASCAR’s COVID-19 protocols. The driver said Thursday he does not have the virus.
LaJoie posted “Protocols” on Twitter when Spire Motorsports announced that Josh Berry will replace him in the No. 7 Chevrolet at Michigan.
In a laterappearance on SiriusXM NASCARRadio, LaJoie said he was in a mandatory seven-day quarantine for contact tracing after someone else tested positive who had been in studio with LaJoie at the start of the week to tape LaJoie’s podcast.
The NASCAR policy states any unvaccinated person who has a close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19 must undergo a mandatory seven-day quarantine. They can return with no symptoms and a negative test on Day 5.
There is no mandatory quarantine for a vaccinated person but a close contact would require a negative test within three to five days to clear a return to the track.
LaJoie did not disclose if he was vaccinated, but it is not required by NASCAR and the series has said there is little it can do beyond urging competitors to get the jab.
“I’m not going to tell anyone else what their risk aversion should be,” he said. “I feel plenty healthy, my immune system is capable of fighting off anything. I work out as hard as anybody. I eat healthy. That’s kind of where I stand.”
LaJoie is the fourth Cup driver since the start of the pandemic to miss a race because of COVID protocols. Jimmie Johnson and Austin Dillon both missed races last season before the vaccine was available; LaJoie and Haley were both ruled out after the vaccine became available.
LaJoie shared his frustration over the protocols during his call to Sirius.
“Regardless of if I have symptoms or a negative test, it’s an automatic seven-day quarantine, which is frustrating,” LaJoie said. “I was in unfortunate circumstances, and I don’t get to do my job this weekend. I wish I had the opportunity to prove I’m not carrying or not transmitting or whatever. I don’t even get the opportunity to do that for what we’re working with, so that’s what really has me irritated.
“On the other hand, I know NASCAR has to do what they have to do, and they don’t show bias.”
LaJoie has one top-10 finish this season and is 29th in the Cup Series standings.
Berry, meanwhile, was announced as a full-time Xfinity Series driver next season for JR Motorsports. The 30-year-old has run a limited schedule with JRM this year and scored his first career victory at Martinsville in April. He was scheduled to replace Michael Annett at Michigan in Saturday’s Xfinity race.
Berry has one career Cup start, earlier this season for Spire at Dover.
NASCAR this week tightened its protocols on the advice of its consulting physicians as cases of COVID-19 have spiked across the country. Only essential personnel are permitted to travel to the track, guest access was cut in the garage and on the starting grid, and masks are now mandatory in all indoor spaces.
Drivers are prohibited from visiting suites and their movement routes will be adjusted to avoid casual interactions with fans. The honorary pace car driver, guest pace car rides and grand marshal car passengers have all been suspended.
NASCAR was one of the first major sports to resume competition last year at the start of the pandemic and its tight protocols made it the first sport to complete a full season. The protocols were eased beginning in May, but mandatory mask wearing was reinstated earlier this month.
___
More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/apf-AutoRacing and https://twitter.com/AP | www.wavy.com | NASCAR’s COVID-19 protocols sideline LaJoie for Michigan | https://www.wavy.com/sports/nascars-covid-19-protocols-sideline-lajoie-for-michigan/ |
||||||
[
"Kirsten Grieshaber",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:50:42+00:00 | 2021-08-19 13:49:32 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Feuropeans-express-grave-concern-over-iaea-report-on-iran%2F.json | en | BERLIN (AP) — The foreign ministries of Germany, France and Britain on Thursday expressed “grave concern” over the latest report by the UN’s nuclear watchdog that said Iran continues to produce uranium metal, which can be used in the production of a nuclear bomb.
The International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna confirmed earlier this week that Iran has produced uranium metal enriched up to 20% for the first time, and has significantly increased its production capacity of uranium enriched up to 60%.
The production of uranium metal is prohibited by the 2015 nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, which promises Iran economic incentives in exchange for limits on its nuclear program, and is meant to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear bomb.
Germany, France and Britain — the western European members of the JCPOA — called the moves by Iran “serious violations” of its commitment under the JCPOA. They said that “both are key steps in the development of a nuclear weapon and Iran has no credible civilian need for either measure.”
Iran insists it is not interested in developing a bomb, and that the uranium metal is for its civilian nuclear program.
“Our concerns are deepened by the fact that Iran has significantly limited IAEA access through withdrawing from JCPOA-agreed monitoring arrangements,” the joint statement added.
The U.S. unilaterally pulled out of the nuclear deal in 2018, with then-President Donald Trump saying it needed to be renegotiated.
Since then, Tehran has been steadily increasing its violations of the deal to put pressure on the other signatories to provide more incentives to Iran to offset crippling American sanctions re-imposed after the U.S. pullout.
The western Europeans, as well as Russia and China, have been working to try to preserve the accord.
U.S. President Joe Biden has said he is open to rejoining the pact, but that Iran needs to return to its restrictions, while Iran has insisted that the U.S. must drop all sanctions.
Months of talks have been held in Vienna with the remaining parties of the JCPOA shuttling between delegations from Iran and the U.S.
The last round of talks ended in June with no date set for their resumption.
Following the latest IAEA report on the increase in uranium metal production, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said earlier this week that the move was “unconstructive and inconsistent with a return to mutual compliance.”
In Thursday’s statement the three western European powers said that “Iran‘s activities are all the more troubling given the fact talks in Vienna have been interrupted upon Tehran’s request for two months now and that Iran has not yet committed to a date for their resumption.”
“While refusing to negotiate, Iran is instead establishing facts on the ground which make a return to the JCPOA more complicated,” the statement said. | www.wavy.com | Europeans express ‘grave concern’ over IAEA report on Iran | https://www.wavy.com/news/world/europeans-express-grave-concern-over-iaea-report-on-iran/ |
||||||
[
"Michael R. Blood",
"Associated Press",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:48:41+00:00 | 2021-08-19 20:39:27 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fexplainer-how-california-could-recall-gov-gavin-newsom%2F.json | en | FILE – In this Aug. 11, 2021, file photo, California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks with reporters at Carl B. Munck Elementary School in Oakland, Calif. Newsom has sharpened his message in the recall’s final month and is focusing his attention on conservative rival Larry Elder, who has pledged to end California’s mask mandate. The last day to vote is Sept. 14. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, Pool, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — California’s Sept. 14 recall election could remove first-term Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom from office. Mail-in ballots, the form of voting most Californians use, already have arrived at voters’ homes.
The contest is unfolding as the state sees a surge in coronavirus cases from the delta variant and the return of masks and other mandates and restrictions in many places. There are raging wildfires in Northern California and an unrelenting homeless crisis.
Republicans are hoping for an upset in a heavily Democratic state, where the GOP hasn’t won a statewide election since 2006. The election is being closely watched nationally as a barometer of the public mood heading toward the 2022 elections, when a closely divided Congress again will be in play.
So, how did California arrive at this point? Here are some answers:
___
WHAT IS A RECALL ELECTION?
California is one of 20 states that have provisions to recall a sitting governor, 19 through elections. The state law establishing the rules goes back to 1911 and was intended to place more power directly in the hands of voters by allowing them to remove elected officials and repeal or pass laws by placing them on the ballot.
Recall attempts are common in the state, but they rarely get on the ballot and even fewer succeed. The only time a governor was recalled was 2003, when Democrat Gray Davis was removed and voters replaced him with Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger.
___
WHY IS THERE A RECALL DRIVE AGAINST NEWSOM?
The answer is simple and complicated.
The simple part: Californians grew angry during the pandemic. Whipsaw stay-at-home orders by Newsom, crushing job losses from business closures, shuttered schools and the disruption of daily life soured just about everybody. Many of life’s routines were cut off at some point if not altogether, whether trips to the beach or lunches at a favorite taco joint.
The complicated part: In a state with nearly 40 million people there are many grievances, including California’s wallet-sapping taxes, rising food and gas prices, the threat of water rationing to contend with a long-running drought and the continuing threat of wildfires. As governor, Newsom is a ready target for that resentment.
He is also being hit by fallout from a multibillion-dollar fraud scandal at the state unemployment agency while weathering a public shaming for going maskless while dining out with friends and lobbyists at an exclusive restaurant last fall, while telling residents to stay home for safety.
___
HOW DOES THE ELECTION WORK?
Voters are being asked if Newsom should be removed, yes or no, and then who should replace him. They will choose from a list of replacement candidates. If a majority of voters approve Newsom’s recall, the candidate who gets the most votes becomes governor. If Newsom is recalled, his replacement could be elected with just a fraction of the votes. With dozens of candidates dividing those ballots, it’s possible a winner could get 25% or less.
___
WHAT REPLACEMENT CANDIDATES HAVE ENTERED THE RACE?
There are 46 names on the certified ballot, though former Congressman Doug Ose withdrew this week after suffering a heart attack. The 24 Republican candidates include talk radio host Larry Elder, Kevin Faulconer, the former San Diego mayor; businessman John Cox, who was defeated by Newsom in 2018; Caitlyn Jenner, a reality TV personality and former Olympian; and Assemblyman Kevin Kiley.
There are nine Democrats, 10 independents, two Green Party members and one Libertarian. No Democrat with political stature decided to run — the best-known Democratic candidate is real estate agent and YouTube star Kevin Paffrath. Most of the candidates are largely unknown and have not mounted credible campaigns.
___
WHAT ARE CANDIDATES PROMISING?
Faulconer has proposed ending the state income tax for individuals making up to $50,000 and households up to $100,000 as part of a plan to make the state more affordable for the middle class. Cox sought to gain attention by campaigning with a 1,000-pound (450-kilogram) Kodiak bear, which he said represented the need for “beastly” changes in the state, and also is calling for a historic tax cut.
Elder has promised to bring a fresh eye and common sense to Democrat-dominated Sacramento, and has said he would swiftly lift state mask and vaccine mandates. Kiley has said he would immediately end the pandemic state of emergency, which would automatically wipe out all state and local orders issued under it.
___
WHAT IS NEWSOM SAYING ABOUT THE RECALL?
For months, Newsom steered around questions about a possible recall election, saying he wanted to focus on the coronavirus, vaccinations and reopening schools. But in March, he launched an aggressive campaign strategy, fundraising, running ads attacking the recall and doing national TV and cable interviews. He has acknowledged that people were anxious and weary after a difficult year dealing with the virus and restrictions.
Newsom, who was elected in a 2018 landslide, sees the recall as an attack on California’s progressive policies. Democrats say the effort to remove him is being driven by far-right extremists and supporters of former President Donald Trump. The recall is backed by state and national Republicans, but organizers argue they have a broad-based coalition, including many independents and Democrats.
The governor spent much of 2020 on the defensive. But he has benefitted from a record state budget surplus that allowed him to tour the state to announce vast new spending programs, including $12 billion to fight homelessness; checks up to $1,100 for millions of low and middle-income earners who struggled during lockdowns; and $2.7 billion to pay for all of the state’s 4-year-olds to go to kindergarten for free.
___
HOW PRECARIOUS IS NEWSOM’S HOLD ON HIS JOB?
In the depths of the pandemic, Newsom’s popularity was tumbling and he appeared imperiled, with widespread unrest over long-running school and business closures. Many business owners were infuriated by what they saw as Newsom’s heavy-handed restrictions that had some open and close several times. Others rebelled against mandatory mask-wearing rules.
Earlier this year, a reopened economy and the astounding windfall of tax dollars helped Newsom recover his standing. However, when Newsom fully reopened the state on June 15 virus cases were near record lows. Since then cases have been climbing, particularly among the unvaccinated.
Los Angeles County, which accounts for a quarter of the state’s population, re-imposed a mandatory mask order on people who are indoors at public places, even if they’re vaccinated. California also is requiring K-12 students to wear masks when they go back to classrooms. Such an order could hurt Newsom, especially among those who felt he didn’t do enough to reopen schools last year.
Newsom himself has been warning the race is close, and Democrats fear many of their voters are shrugging at the contest while Republicans and conservatives are eager to vote.
Still, Newsom has an advantage over his GOP foes — California is one of the country’s most heavily Democratic states. Democratic voters outnumber Republicans by nearly 2-to-1, and the party controls every statewide office and dominates the Legislature and congressional delegation.
Republicans last won a statewide election in 2006, when Schwarzenegger was reelected. | www.wavy.com | EXPLAINER: How California could recall Gov. Gavin Newsom | https://www.wavy.com/news/politics/explainer-how-california-could-recall-gov-gavin-newsom/ |
||||||
[
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:56:43+00:00 | 2021-08-20 01:33:04 | Residents of the western United States are getting used to ending summer with smoke-filled skies and shrinking reservoirs, but new projections from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offer little relief in early fall. | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fweather%2Ffall-drought-forecast-noaa-sees-the-same-fall-pattern-just-about-everywhere%2F.json | en | (NEXSTAR) – Residents of the western United States are getting used to ending summer with smoke-filled skies and shrinking reservoirs, but new projections from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offer little relief in early fall.
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center released new maps Thursday providing a temperature and precipitation outlook for the weeks and months ahead. Projections show a high likelihood of warmer and dry conditions than normal across most of the southwest, stretching north to the Canadian border.
Researchers from NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System say we may see a few signs of improvement along the Oregon and Washington coast, and surrounding Illinois and Wisconsin, but most of the nation’s hardest-hit drought zones won’t get relief.
“But the big picture: Drought is expected to persist through November just about everywhere,” tweeted the NIDIS team. The drought could even expand into the Central Plains region.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 98% of the West is in a drought. About 25% of the region is in the worst category: exceptional drought.
The outlook map above shows existing drought conditions locked in over roughly a third of the continental U.S. That means little to no improvement for more than a dozen states with current exceptional drought conditions.
Current federal Drought Monitor map (NOAA)
In recent weeks, NOAA forecasters have expressed increased confidence in the formation of a La Niña weather pattern for late fall into winter.
La Niña is the name given to a pattern of colder-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. The result is a change in expected seasonal conditions, often drying out the southern states and providing a soaking along a northern jetstream.
(NOAA image)
Such a pattern could bring relief to the Pacific Northwest but likely wouldn’t help parched states along the southern border as fall turns to winter. | www.wavy.com | Fall drought forecast: NOAA sees the same fall pattern ‘just about everywhere’ | https://www.wavy.com/weather/fall-drought-forecast-noaa-sees-the-same-fall-pattern-just-about-everywhere/ |
|||||
[
"Barbara Ortutay",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:49:21+00:00 | 2021-08-19 20:45:51 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Ftechnology%2Fexplainer-how-social-platforms-are-dealing-with-the-taliban%2F.json | en | In this Feb. 10, 2016 photo, Afghanis access social media websites at a private internet cafe in Kabul, Afghanistan. As the Taliban negotiates with senior politicians and government leaders following its lightning-fast takeover of Afghanistan, U.S. social media companies are reckoning with how to deal with a violent extremist group that is poised to rule a country of 40 million people. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
As the Taliban negotiates with senior politicians and government leaders following its lighting-fast takeover of Afghanistan, U.S. social media companies are reckoning with how to deal with a violent extremist group that is poised to rule a country of 40 million people.
Should the Taliban be allowed on social platforms if they don’t break any rules, such as a ban on inciting violence, but instead use it to spread a narrative that they’re newly reformed and are handing out soap and medication in the streets? If the Taliban runs Afghanistan, should they also run the country’s official government accounts?
And should tech companies in Silicon Valley decide what is — and isn’t — a legitimate government? They certainly don’t want to. But as the situation unfolds, uncomfortable decisions lie ahead.
DOES THE TALIBAN USE SOCIAL MEDIA?
The Talibanquickly seized power in Afghanistan two weeks before the U.S. was set to complete its troop withdrawal after a two-decade war. The insurgents stormed across the country, capturing all major cities in a matter of days, as Afghan security forces trained and equipped by the U.S. and its allies melted away.
The last time the Taliban was in power in Afghanistan, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube did not exist. Neither did MySpace, for that matter. Internet use in the country was virtually nonexistent with just 0.01% of the population online, according to the World Bank.
In recent years, that number has vastly increased. The Taliban have also increased their online presence, producing slick videos and maintaining official social media accounts. Despite bans, they have found ways to evade restrictions on YouTube, Facebook and WhatsApp. Last year, for instance, they used WhatsApp groups to share pictures of local health officials in white gowns and masks handing out protective masks and bars of soap to locals.
On Twitter, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has been posting regular updates to more than 300,000 followers, including international media. Twitter suspended another account, @AfghPresident, which has served as the nation’s de facto official presidential account, pending verification of the account holder’s identity.
“There’s a realization that winning the war is as much a function of a nonmilitary tool like social media as it is about the bullets,” said Sarah Kreps, a law professor at Cornell University who focuses on international politics, technology and national security. “Maybe these groups, even from just an instrumental perspective, have realized that beheading people is not a way to win the hearts and minds of the country.”
WAIT, THE TALIBAN WERE ALLOWED ON TWITTER?
Facebook and YouTube consider the Taliban a terrorist organization and prohibit it from operating accounts. Twitter has not explicitly banned the group, though the company said Tuesday that it will continue to enforce its rules, in particular policies than bar “glorification of violence, platform manipulation and spam.”
This essentially means that until the accounts violate Twitter’s rules — for instance, by inciting violence — they are allowed to operate.
While the Taliban is not on the U.S. list of foreign terrorist organizations, the U.S. has imposed sanctions on it. Facebook said Tuesday that the group is banned from its platform under its “dangerous organization” policies. which also bars “praise, support and representation” of the group and accounts run on its behalf. The company emphasized in a statement that it has a dedicated team of Afghanistan experts that are native speakers of Dari and Pashto, Afghanistan’s official languages, to help provide local context and to alert the company of emerging issues.
Facebook has a spotty record when it comes to enforcing its rules. Doing so on WhatsApp, also owned by Facebook, could prove more difficult given that the service encrypts messages so that no one but senders and recipients can read them.
Twitter said it is seeing people in Afghanistan using its platform to seek help and that its top priority is “keeping people safe.” Critics immediately questioned why the company continues to ban former President Donald Trump even as it allows Mujahid to post.
“They certainly decided to silence a former U.S. president,” said Alex Triantafilou, chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party in Cincinnati, Ohio, who called Twitter’s decision “preposterous.”
Twitter permanently suspended Trump following the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, saying his posts glorified and could lead to more violence. The company has long insisted that it suspends accounts based on behavior and whether they violate its rules on the service, and not on offline actions and affiliation.
While he understands that social media companies operate in a global economy, Triantafilou said, “it seems to me that supporting America and our own interest” would make more sense for a U.S. company.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
As the situation unfolds, the major companies are grappling with how to respond. It’s not an entirely unique situation — they have had to deal with groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, for instance, which hold considerable political power but are also violent and have carried out acts of terrorism.
“For the past decade, Hamas has used social media to gain attention, and convey their messages to international audiences in multiple languages,” wrote Devorah Margolin, senior research fellow at the Program on Extremism at The George Washington University, in a July report. For example, she wrote, both the political and military wings of Hamas operated official accounts on Twitter.
Despite attempts to use its English-language account to make its case to the international community, Margolin said the group still used Twitter to call for violence. In 2019, Twitter closed the official accounts, @HamasInfo and @HamasInfoEn, for violating its rules, saying there is “no place on Twitter for illegal terrorist organizations and violent extremist groups.”
Facebook declined to say specifically if it would hand over Afghanistan’s official government accounts to the Taliban if it is recognized as the country’s government. The company pointed to an earlier statement saying it “does not make decisions about the recognized government in any particular country but instead respects the authority of the international community in making these determinations.”
Twitter declined to answer questions beyond its statement. YouTube, meanwhile, provided a boilerplate statement saying it complies with “all applicable sanctions and trade compliance laws” and bans the incitement of violence.
All that effectively leaves the door open for the social platforms to eventually hand over control of the official accounts, assuming the Taliban behave and U.S. sanctions are lifted. “That seems like a reasonable approach, because I think the social media platforms don’t necessarily want to be adjudicating is which groups are legitimate themselves,” said Kreps, who served in the U.S. Air Force from 1999 to 2003, partly in Afghanistan.
At the same time, she noted, the companies, especially Facebook, have learned a great deal — and paid a price — for the way the way social media helped incite genocidal behavior in Myanmar. And they’re unlikely to want a repeat of those horrors. | www.wavy.com | EXPLAINER: How social platforms are dealing with the Taliban | https://www.wavy.com/news/technology/explainer-how-social-platforms-are-dealing-with-the-taliban/ |
||||||
[
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:45:23+00:00 | 2021-08-20 01:34:01 | With the delta variant of COVID-19 overwhelming hospitals across the country, government health officials have recommended a booster shot of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine – but what about Americans who received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine? | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fcovid-19-vaccine%2Fjj-booster-shot-what-to-know-if-you-got-the-one-dose-vaccine%2F.json | en | FILE – In this April 8, 2021 file photo, the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is seen at a pop up vaccination site in the Staten Island borough of New York. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is allowing the problem-plagued factory of contract manufacturer Emergent BioSolutions to resume production of COVID-19 vaccine bulk substance to resume, the company said Thursday, July 29. The Baltimore factory was shut down by the FDA in mid-April due to contamination problems that forced the company to trash the equivalent of tens of millions of doses of vaccine it was making under contract for Johnson & Johnson. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
(NEXSTAR) – With the delta variant of COVID-19 overwhelming hospitals across the country, government health officials have recommended a booster shot of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine – but what about Americans who received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine?
The good news is that Health and Human Services officials say there will likely be a J&J booster update in the near future, but it’s not yet clear when that announcement will come.
On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that, starting Sept. 20, the Biden administration plans to offer COVID-19 booster shots for people who were given the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least eight months earlier.
“Based on our latest assessment, the current protection against severe disease, hospitalization, and death could diminish in the months ahead, especially among those who are at higher risk or were vaccinated during the earlier phases of the vaccination rollout,” public health and medical experts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement. “For that reason, we conclude that a booster shot will be needed to maximize vaccine-induced protection and prolong its durability.”
When it comes to the single shot vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, HHS officials said they are still awaiting data because “administration of the J&J vaccine did not begin in the U.S. until March 2021.”
“For those who got the J&J vaccine: We do expect that boosters will be needed in the future and we are expecting more data in the coming weeks that will help us make recommendations for people who got J&J,” said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in a tweet.
CDC data show that more than 14,000,000 Americans have received the J&J COVID-19 vaccine.
Murthy assured Americans that the protection from all of the vaccines against the worst COVID-19 outcomes remains high, but the new data show that protection against mild and moderate cases is decreasing over time because of normal waning immunity and the impact of the delta variant.
“We are concerned that this pattern of decline will continue and eventually lead to less protection against severe illness, hospitalization and death.” Murthy said. “Boosters may help restore that protection.
HHS officials say their top priority remains staying ahead of the “constantly changing” virus as it continues to mutate, creating a fluid situation that may require modifications to the plan.
“We also want to emphasize the ongoing urgency of vaccinating the unvaccinated in the U.S. and around the world,” the statement concludes. “Nearly all the cases of severe disease, hospitalization, and death continue to occur among those not yet vaccinated at all.”
Can I mix vaccines?
The government is encouraging people to stick with the same vaccine provider, but hasn’t mandated it.
The CDC recommends people with compromised immune systems who received either Pfizer or Moderna when they were originally vaccinated should seek an mRNA vaccine for their third dose, and should stop at three doses.
For people who received the J&J vaccine, however, the science is again unclear. “There is not enough data at this time to determine whether immunocompromised people who received the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine also have an improved antibody response following an additional dose of the same vaccine,” the CDC guidance reads.
The federal stance hasn’t stopped local health officials from making their own decisions when it comes to the J&J vaccine.
San Francisco’s Public Health Director Grant Colfax said earlier this month that the city is allowing people who first received the J&J vaccine to be given a booster shot of Pfizer or Moderna as long as they consult with their doctor or health provider first.
A new study also found that mixing an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine like Pfizer with a viral vector vaccine, which is what the J&J shot is, can elicit a strong immunological response.
As J&J recipients in the U.S. wait out the lag on test data, Dr. Murthy reassured all vaccinated Americans that their current protection is strong and that “we are not recommending that everyone go out and get a booster today.” | www.wavy.com | J&J booster shot? What to know if you got the one-dose vaccine | https://www.wavy.com/covid-19-vaccine/jj-booster-shot-what-to-know-if-you-got-the-one-dose-vaccine/ |
|||||
[
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:56:36+00:00 | 2021-08-19 18:18:38 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fsports%2Fwazzus-rolovich-says-he-intends-to-follow-vaccine-mandate%2F.json | en | Washington State head coach Nick Rolovich wears a mask as he gives directions during the first day of NCAA college football practice, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) — Washington State coach Nick Rolovich said Thursday that he intends to follow a new state mandate requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for all those working at the state’s colleges and universities, including coaches.
Rolovich had said previously that he was not going to get the vaccine for personal reasons and did not explicitly say Thursday that he would receive a shot. “I’m just going to follow his mandate,” he said.
The mandate announced this week by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee also covers public, charter and private school teachers and staff. It allows for religious or medical exemptions but does not allow for a weekly testing alternative, and those who are not fully vaccinated by Oct. 18 risk losing their jobs.
Asked if he would wait for full FDA approval before receiving the vaccine, Rolovich repeated his plan to follow the mandate.
Rolovich is beginning his second season in charge of the Cougars. He participated in Pac-12 media day last month remotely after announcing his decision not to get vaccinated. His announcement had drawn attention from the top levels of the state government. Rolovich is one of two state employees making more than $3 million, along with Washington coach Jimmy Lake.
Rolovich had previously said he was not against vaccination and supported the decision of others to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Before the start of preseason camp, Washington State’s vaccination rate as a team was around 75%.
Rolovich said there was a meeting of the Washington State head coaches following the mandate announcement. He said he believes the rest of his staff that is unvaccinated would also be complying.
“I believe they all plan on following the mandate. It’s what the deal is,” Rolovich said.
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | www.wavy.com | Wazzu’s Rolovich says he intends to follow vaccine mandate | https://www.wavy.com/sports/wazzus-rolovich-says-he-intends-to-follow-vaccine-mandate/ |
||||||
[
"Michael Balsamo",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:55:44+00:00 | 2021-08-19 17:52:55 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fsports%2Fjustice-dept-bolsters-monitoring-of-federal-inmate-accounts%2F.json | en | Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco delivers opening remarks at a meeting with federal and local law enforcement to discuss their work on the recently announced firearms trafficking strike forces, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, Pool)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is directing the federal prison system to revamp how it monitors government-run prison deposit accounts that have at times been used by inmates to shield themselves from paying debts and for suspicious or illegal activity.
The directive, issued this week by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, instructs the Bureau of Prisons to overhaul its current policies on so-called inmate trust accounts to “strengthen appropriate monitoring and reporting.” The Associated Press obtained a copy of Monaco’s directive and a subsequent Bureau of Prisons memo providing new guidance to wardens.
“In administering this program, the Bureau must take appropriate steps to prevent inmates from using such accounts to engage in unlawful activity or to avoid obligations like paying court-ordered restitution to victims,” Monaco wrote.
On Thursday, the Bureau of Prisons issued new guidance requiring wardens at the government’s 122 federal prisons to report the amount of money inmates have in their accounts each month and identify inmates with balances over $2,500. The memorandum also directs officials to refer cases to other law enforcement agencies when a crime may have been committed.
It also instructs the agency to investigate inmates who receive large sums of money that result in skyrocketing balances, identify outside sources depositing money in accounts of multiple inmates or former inmates depositing money for prisoners still in custody.
A Justice Department official said Monaco’s directive is meant to create a uniform policy across the federal prison system and to ensure Bureau of Prisons officials are taking appropriate steps to monitor inmate accounts. The official said the Justice Department’s new policies were aimed at ensuring that inmates aren’t using their accounts to avoid financial obligations or to break the law. The new procedure creates a clearer process for prison officials to report, track and investigate suspicious or criminal activity.
The official said the Bureau of Prisons has identified about 20 inmates — out of the more than 130,000 federal prisoners — who have more than $100,000 in their accounts.
But they cautioned there is nothing inherently wrong with an inmate holding large sums of money in their accounts, unless they are involved in illegal activity or are using the account to shield court-ordered debts like child support, alimony or restitution to be paid to victims. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the directive before it was formally distributed.
The accounts have long drawn scrutiny from other law enforcement officials who have warned that it was ripe for abuse and corruption.
Earlier this month, federal prosecutors filed court papers that detailed how Larry Nassar — the former USA Gymnastics national team doctor — owed nearly $58,000 to his victims, even though he had more than $12,000 deposited in his prison fund account. The Washington Post first reported that Nassar had paid only about $100 per year, or about $300 since he first entered the federal prison system in 2017.
Monaco’s memorandum is a broad directive to the Bureau of Prisons that is likely to go far beyond the initial guidance that prison officials issued on Wednesday.
It also tasks Bureau of Prisons officials with improving their coordination with other law enforcement agencies and making sure all steps are being taken to “reduce opportunities of abuse.” | www.wavy.com | Justice Dept. bolsters monitoring of federal inmate accounts | https://www.wavy.com/sports/justice-dept-bolsters-monitoring-of-federal-inmate-accounts/ |
||||||
[
"The Associated Press",
"Nathan Crawford",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Jason Marks"
] | 2021-08-20 01:45:56+00:00 | 2021-08-19 13:04:18 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fentertainment-news%2Fed-sheeran-says-new-coming-of-age-album-coming-in-october%2F.json | en | FILE – In this Feb. 21, 2018 file photo, singer Ed Sheeran poses for photographers upon arrival at the Brit Awards 2018 in London. Sheeran announced Thursday that his upcoming studio album “‘=’”, which is pronounced “Equals,” will release on Oct. 29. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — No more break for Ed Sheeran.
The British pop star announced Thursday that his upcoming studio album “=,” which is pronounced “Equals,” will release on Oct. 29. He unveiled his 14-song track list, which includes his recently released single “Bad Habits.”
Sheeran said his new album is “really personal.” He said his life changed in the past few years after marriage and the birth of the couple’s daughter.
“I see it as my coming-of-age record, and I can’t wait to share this next chapter with you,” the singer-songwriter said in a statement.
The four-time Grammy winner took a break from work and social media in late 2019 after two years of touring in support of his best-selling album “÷” or “Divide.”
The new album was written and recorded across London, Sweden and Los Angeles.
Next month, Sheeran will perform in a concert to kickoff the NFL season opener between the reigning Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys in Florida. | www.wavy.com | Ed Sheeran says new ‘coming of age’ album coming in October | https://www.wavy.com/entertainment-news/ed-sheeran-says-new-coming-of-age-album-coming-in-october/ |
||||||
[
"Tom Price",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:53:57+00:00 | 2021-08-19 17:29:55 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Fhome-br%2Fheating-cooling-air-quality-br%2Fbest-small-box-fan%2F.json | en | Buying an extension cord can help maneuver the smaller box fan to where it is needed most without being limited by the length of the regular power cord.
Which small box fan is best?
One of the most energy-efficient ways to cool down a room or office is by a fan. Of the many different types of fans on the market today, the box fan remains an enduring classic for all situations. With a cheap yet powerful motor, the box fan is excellent for solid circulation without spending much money. A box fan at a smaller size may be the best choice for those with a more confined area of space. However, finding the right box fan at the right size with the right amount of power can be challenging.
Features to consider before buying a small box fan
Before buying a small box fan, there are several important factors to keep in mind to ensure you buy the best possible product.
Power
One of the most critical factors in buying a small box fan is its power when circulating air. Box fans generally have powerful motors which help the blades push air throughout a room. However, many smaller box fans reduce the power of the motor to make the cutbacks in size.
Noise level
Another key feature of any box fan is the amount of noise it emits. Many box fans can be incredibly noisy, especially at the highest level of power. However, with smaller box fans, in particular, it is easier to find one that is almost virtually silent at lower speed levels. However, it is also important to pay attention to certain box fans that make more noise over time.
Speed settings
While some box fans simply turn on or off, slightly higher-quality ones have multiple speed settings to fit different situations. Most box fans have around three different settings, though many available on the market have anywhere between five and eight. The differences in speed levels can help cool off an entire room on high or just quietly circulate air on low.
Remote control and other features
Remote controls for box fans can help users who are less mobile or simply want to stay put and control the fans’ speed setting and power from anywhere in a room. Additionally, some box fans come with other features such as sleep timers, energy efficiency modes or decreasing fan speed. These additional features can be helpful but do not come standard on most box fans.
Size
When looking for a small box fan, the term can sometimes be relative. Many box fans come in sizes ranging from 16 to 20 inches down to 4 to 5 inches. So, depending on the size preference of what may be small, other box fans may qualify. Knowing what size is needed before purchasing can make a big difference.
The best small box fans
Best of the best small box fan
Vornado 573 Small Flat Panel Air Circulator Fan
What you need to know: This is a great box fan with an adjustable neck to promote the best possible air circulation despite the device’s small size.
What you’ll love: It comes with three different speed settings for the perfect power regardless of the situation. It also comes with a 5-year warranty, so you can resolve any issues with the fan without a hassle.
What you should consider: Without proper cleaning, the fan will become noisy over time, especially on the higher speed setting.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Best bang for your buck small box fan
Comfort Zone CZ9BWT Portable 9-inch 2-Speed Quiet Box Fan
What you need to know: A portable and affordable box fan that comes with two different speed settings for versatile use no matter the situation.
What you’ll love: This is one of the quietest box fans on the market today, making it perfect for nighttime use and other smaller spaces.
What you should consider: The quality of the product is not up to par compared to other fans that cost slightly more money. Many users report issues with durability.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Honorable mentions
BLACK+DECKER Mini Box Fan
What you need to know: This is an affordable and high-quality box fan that provides great air circulation despite just a 9-inch frame.
What you’ll love: An easy-to-use control panel that helps adjust the three different speed settings available on the device. Also still incredibly quiet despite the relative power of the fan.
What you should consider: It can be very difficult to clean with complex instructions needed to do so. Lack of cleaning will result in motor issues down the line and sometimes even a complete breakdown.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Elanket Box Fan
What you need to know: This is a mighty box fan with a solid range on the motor for even slightly larger rooms. The fan also has three different speed settings to fit any situation.
What you’ll love: The fan is incredibly energy efficient to ensure that using it often does not waste power. The low fan setting is also very quiet for easy use at night without being disturbed.
What you should consider: Some users report that the power is not enough for some rooms, especially those with poor ventilation.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Treva 10-Inch Portable Desktop Air Circulation Battery Fan
What you need to know: This is a portable box fan with a sleek design, made with durable materials to ensure no damage during transport.
What you’ll love: It has two different speed settings for better versatility. It also has two different possible power sources making the device run by a battery when not plugged in for outdoor use.
What you should consider: It lacks the same kind of power that many other box fans have, meaning it is better for a smaller setting to circulate air better.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Tom Price writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | www.wavy.com | Best small box fan | https://www.wavy.com/reviews/br/home-br/heating-cooling-air-quality-br/best-small-box-fan/ |
||||||
[
"Victoria Milko",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:50:29+00:00 | 2021-08-19 04:23:57 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fethnic-health-care-systems-strained-in-myanmar-amid-pandemic%2F.json | en | Democratic Karen Buddhist Army medics treat a COVID patient at one of their health facilities, in Karen State, Myanmar, on Aug 11, 2021. Independent ethnic organizations that have been providing health care in Myanmar after the collapse of the country’s central health system are now facing serious challenges of their own. (Saw Kwe via AP)
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — When February’s military takeover of Myanmar led to the collapse of the central health care system, independent ethnic organizations that had operated for decades on the Southeast Asian country’s borders stepped in. They provided basic medical services, treated COVID-19-patients and occasionally even tended to injuries from armed skirmishes.
But a fierce new wave of coronavirus cases, and myriad other challenges — closed borders, shrinking support from international donors, and a crackdown on aid by the military, which has been accused of hoarding medical supplies for its own use — are stretching their abilities to the limit.
“There is no transportation available to get proper medicine and food supplies,” a doctor working at a makeshift clinic in the jungle of eastern Myanmar told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “There are not enough oxygen cylinders in our area and clinic. Because of heavy rain, there is also difficulty to even get clean water.”
The doctor’s name is being withheld to protect them from retaliation.
As of Wednesday, Myanmar had more than 363,000 cases of COVID-19, according to state-owned news media. That number is thought to be a vast undercount, as testing in the country of about 55 million people is limited. Cases first spiked in June, and many hospitals have been forced to turn away patients because of staffing shortages. Oxygen and medical supplies have been scarce, with the military accused of hoarding supplies for its own hospitals.
The per capita death rate in Myanmar was the worst in Southeast Asia during one week of July, when bodies were lined up outside overwhelmed crematoriums. The number of deaths is also likely an undercount, given that only those who die at medical facilities are included in the official figures.
Even before the recent coronavirus surge, the country’s central health care system was collapsing as the military attacked and drove underground many medical providers who were early opponents of the February takeover. When cases began to rise, the government put a chokeholdon needed supplies, restricting the sale of oxygen and halting the distribution of personal protective equipment in what human rights activists have called a blatant bid to consolidate power and crush opposition.
That’s where the decentralized ethnic health care centers came in. The providers operate in Myanmar’s border states, where a majority of the country’s ethnic minorities live and where for decades about 20 armed ethnic organizations have been fighting the military for greater autonomy.
In northeastern Shan state, posters with COVID-19 health messaging — recommendations to practice social distancing, wash hands often and isolate at home — have been translated into local languages and distributed through social media by regional health care groups.
Farther south, in Karen state, local health volunteers travel by foot and motorbike with backpacks of medical equipment, educating villagers about health protocols. In other areas of the state, medics trained by local armed groups work to bring medicine and oxygen to patients via muddy dirt roads destroyed by the seasonal monsoon rains.
Several ethnic organizations across the country have even been able to inoculate their residents after obtaining vaccines from China, which has strengthened its COVID-19 response on the border to stop infections in Myanmar from crossing over. Such vaccinations have taken place in the regions of Kachin, Shan and Wa, all of which border China.
The important role of ethnic health care providers has gained recognition from Myanmar’s National Unity Government — an opposition force formed this year by ousted lawmakers that calls itself the country’s legitimate ruling body. In July, the coalition formed a task force to help ethnic groups confront COVID-19.
But now, these groups are facing serious challenges. For instance, they have traditionally used Myanmar’s porous border to import medical supplies, conduct medical trainings and — in severe cases — bring people into neighboring countries for medical treatment, said Sharon Bell, an independent researcher based in New Zealand who has studied ethnic health care systems in Myanmar.
The pandemic has prompted neighboring countries to nearly completely seal the borders, cutting off those options, Bell said. “Even before this wave of COVID-19, they had patients dying because they couldn’t be evacuated,” she said of the border health providers.
Those who are able to make it across the border are faced with narrowing options for care. Previously relied-upon clinics — such as the Mae Tao clinic, which operates in the Thai-Myanmar border town of Mae Sot — have severely limited most of their services because of recent virus outbreaks among staff and the local community.
Reduced funding from international donors has been another blow to the groups.
When Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy was elected in 2015, “many international organizations shifted funding away from the ethnic health organizations to work with the state health care system because they wanted to establish legitimacy by working inside Myanmar rather than cross-border activities,” Bell said. The funding that did remain for ethnic groups is now being blocked by the military, she said.
As the pandemic intensifies, there have been increased calls by activists and health care workers both inside and outside Myanmar for international donors to work directly with community groups along the border, said Jennifer Leigh, an epidemiologist and Myanmar researcher for Physicians for Human Rights.
“Those networks could be built up again very quickly as key mechanisms — it’s one of the fastest and most efficient ways to get aid” into the country, she said. “We can’t wait for a political resolution to solve this situation.”
The shift in aid seems to be starting. On Aug. 10, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, announced that $50 million would “flow directly through international and nongovernmental organization partners” to provide aid for “vulnerable people from Myanmar,” including refugees and internally displaced people.
Back in the jungle of eastern Myanmar, doctors who work into the night seeing patients said they fear what will happen if aid and medical supplies don’t reach their clinic soon.
“We won’t be able to manage if too many more people get sick,” said the doctor who spoke to the AP by telephone. “We won’t be able to help, and I am sure more will die.”
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | www.wavy.com | Ethnic health care systems strained in Myanmar amid pandemic | https://www.wavy.com/news/world/ethnic-health-care-systems-strained-in-myanmar-amid-pandemic/ |
||||||
[
"Josh Boak",
"Hannah Fingerhut",
"Ben Fox",
"Associated Press",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:48:14+00:00 | 2021-08-19 12:04:45 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fafghanistan-war-unpopular-amid-chaotic-pullout-ap-norc-poll%2F.json | en | FILE – In this Dec. 1, 2011, file photo, a U.S. soldier with Apache Company of Task Force 3-66 Armor, out of Grafenwoehr, Germany, stands guard at a police checkpoint at Gulruddin pass in Sar Hawza district of Paktika province, south of Kabul, Afghanistan. A significant majority of Americans are skeptical that the war in Afghanistan was worthwhile even as they are more divided over the president’s handling of foreign policy and national security, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. (AP Photo/Heidi Vogt, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) — A significant majority of Americans doubt that the war in Afghanistan was worthwhile, even as the United States is more divided over President Joe Biden’s handling of foreign policy and national security, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Roughly two-thirds said they did not think America’s longest war was worth fighting, the poll shows. Meanwhile, 47% approve of Biden’s management of international affairs, while 52% approve of Biden on national security.
The poll was conducted Aug. 12-16 as the two-decade war in Afghanistan ended with the Taliban returning to power and capturing the capital of Kabul. Biden has faced bipartisan condemnation in Washington for sparking a humanitarian crisis by being ill-prepared for the speed of the Taliban’s advance.
The president has stood by his decision to exit the country, insisting that he will not allow the war to continue indefinitely and betting that Americans agree with him.
Mark Sohl is among those who do. The 62-year-old Democrat from Topeka, Kansas, said “it wasn’t worth losing more American lives over a mess.”
Sohl added: “After 20 years, you got to cut loose.”
Others felt more conflicted after seeing grim scenes in Afghanistan even if they opposed the war overall. In one image likely to endure, Afghans clung to U.S. military planes in a desperate bid to flee the country
“I don’t believe we should have been in there to begin with,” said Sebastian Garcia, a 23-year-old Biden voter from Lubbock, Texas, who said he had three cousins serve in Afghanistan. “But now that we’re leaving, I do feel we probably should stay after seeing, I guess you’d say, the trouble we’ve caused.”
Roughly two-thirds also suggest the Iraq War that coincided with Afghanistan was a mistake. Republicans are somewhat more likely than Democrats to say the wars in both countries were worth fighting. About 4 in 10 Republicans do, compared with about 3 in 10 Democrats.
Deborah Fulkerson of Pueblo, Colorado, believes it would be wise for the U.S. to remain in Afghanistan.
“I feel like us having a presence there just keeps things more neutral and safer there for those people and for us,” said the 62-year-old, who describes herself as “more conservative,” particularly on social issues.
Fulkerson acknowledged that she does not follow Afghanistan that closely, saying she is more concerned with gas prices and local news.
“I’m a Christian and I know where my future lies, and all of this stuff that’s going on that I have no control over except through prayer, I just can’t watch it all the time,” she said. “I would be negative all the time.”
About half of Americans say they are extremely or very concerned about the threat to the U.S. posed by extremist groups based outside of the United States; about another one-third are moderately concerned. Only about 1 in 10 say they are not concerned.
But nearly 20 years after the Sept. 11 attacks that spurred the Afghanistan war, more Americans say they perceive the major national security threats as being internal.
Roughly two-thirds say they are extremely or very concerned about the threat of extremist groups based inside the United States. About one-quarter are somewhat concerned, and about 1 in 10 are not concerned.
Republicans and Democrats see the threat of extremist groups based outside of the U.S. similarly: about half across party lines are extremely or very concerned. But Democrats are more likely than Republicans to be strongly concerned about the threat of extremist groups based in the U.S., 75% to 57%.
Biden has largely focused his policy agenda on domestic issues such as rebuilding the U.S. economy after the coronavirus pandemic. That appears to be resonating with some Americans who see Afghanistan as a distant war but the costs of food, housing and transportation as inescapable.
Michael Lee Bettger, 47, said he voted for Donald Trump, but has been impressed by the economy under Biden and that is his priority. Bettger lives in Austin, Arkansas, and has never been this busy working industrial maintenance.
“Jobs are just overflowing,” Bettger said. “There’s not enough of me to go around.”
___
The AP-NORC poll of 1,729 adults was conducted Aug. 12-16 using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.2 percentage points. | www.wavy.com | Afghanistan war unpopular amid chaotic pullout: AP-NORC poll | https://www.wavy.com/news/politics/afghanistan-war-unpopular-amid-chaotic-pullout-ap-norc-poll/ |
||||||
[
"Ed White",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:55:24+00:00 | 2021-08-19 15:39:48 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fsports%2Ffreehan-catcher-on-1968-champion-detroit-tigers-dies-at-79%2F.json | en | FILE – Detroit Tigers catcher Bill Freehan is shown Feb. 24, 1975. Freehan, an 11-time All-Star catcher with the Detroit Tigers and key player on the 1968 World Series championship team, has died at age 79. “It’s with a heavy heart that all of us with the Detroit Tigers extend our condolences to the friends and family of Bill Freehan,” the team said Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Preston Stroup, File)
DETROIT (AP) — Bill Freehan, an 11-time All-Star catcher with the Detroit Tigers and key player on the 1968 World Series championship team, died Thursday at age 79.
The Tigers honored Freehan with a moment of silence and photos and video on the Comerica Park scoreboard before an afternoon game with the Los Angeles Angels.
“It’s with a heavy heart that all of us with the Detroit Tigers extend our condolences to the friends and family of Bill Freehan,” the team said.
The cause of death was not disclosed, but family members have publicly said that Freehan had Alzheimer’s disease.
He played his entire career with the Tigers, from 1961 through 1976. Besides All-Star appearances, including all 15 innings in the 1967 game, Freehan was awarded five Gold Gloves.
“The guy was the best catcher I ever pitched to. … Nobody did it better,” said Denny McLain, who won 31 games for the Tigers in 1968.
In Game 5 of the 1968 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Freehan blocked home plate during a crucial play and tagged out Lou Brock. Detroit won the game and the series — a result best captured by a famous photo of pitcher Mickey Lolich jumping into the armsof his jubilant catcher who caught a foul ball for the last out in Game 7.
“He was the heart and soul of the ballclub,” said teammate and fellow catcher Jim Price.
Angels manager Joe Maddon called Freehan a “great catcher.” He was a St. Louis fan as a teenager and recalled the big play at the plate in the World Series.
“Brock did not slide,” Maddon lamented.
Willie Horton, an outfielder who made the throw that nailed Brock, said Freehan was one of his best teammates.
“His entire Major League career was committed to the Tigers and the city of Detroit, and he was one of the most respected and talented members of the organization through some difficult yet important times throughout the 1960s and ’70s,” Horton said.
Before joining the Tigers, Freehan played football and baseball at the University of Michigan. He coached the Michigan baseball team from 1990-95 and also worked in Detroit’s minor league system.
Freehan’s family suspected that Alzheimer’s disease was related to concussions from his years as a ballplayer. A grandson, Blaise Salter, quit the minor leagues in 2018 after two concussions in eight months.
“I don’t even know if they documented concussions back in the day,” Salter told the Detroit Free Press at the time. “But obviously, he had enough. Think about it: When he was catching, they didn’t have helmets as a catcher. There is foul ball after foul ball off his head. There is definitely a connection.”
___
AP sports writer Larry Lage contributed to this story.
___
Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwritez | www.wavy.com | Freehan, catcher on 1968 champion Detroit Tigers, dies at 79 | https://www.wavy.com/sports/freehan-catcher-on-1968-champion-detroit-tigers-dies-at-79/ |
||||||
[
"Deepti Hajela",
"Associated Press",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:45:49+00:00 | 2021-08-19 22:30:19 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fentertainment-news%2Fchuck-close-artist-of-monumental-grids-dies-at-81%2F.json | en | FILE – In this Jan. 3, 1996, file photo, Chuck Close, 55, using a hand brace to hold his paint brush, adjusts the brush with his teeth while working in his New York studio. Since suffering a partial paralysis in 1988 due to a spinal artery collapse, Close does not have the strength to grip the brush. Close who is best known for his monumental grid portraits and photo-based paintings of family and famous friends, has died on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, at age 81. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — Chuck Close, a painter, photographer and printmaker best known for his monumental grid portraits and photo-based paintings of family and famous friends, has died. He was 81.
His attorney, John Silberman, said Close died Thursday at a hospital in Oceanside, New York. He did not give a cause of death.
Close, whose professional highlights include a solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1973, was known for using a grid structure for the representation of an image in nearly all of his works, which he said helped him break the face down into “incremental units.”
Time consuming and labor intensive, he produced a plethora of paintings that dissect the human face of such luminaries as President Bill Clinton, composer Philip Glass and the artist himself.
His works have been displayed in museums, galleries and even the New York City subway.
In 2017, Close faced accusations of sexual harassment from some women who said he made inappropriate sexual comments when they had gone to his studio to potentially be models for him in prior years.
He told The New York Times that he had spoken to the women about their bodies as part of evaluating them as models, and apologized for causing any discomfort.
Close, who had been diagnosed with dementia-related conditions in 2013, also had serious mobility issues after suffering a spinal artery collapse in 1988, requiring him to use a wheelchair.
In Close’s work, the “pixilated” images “are filled with tiny abstract colored shapes, individual brushstrokes or even the artist’s fingerprints. When viewed from a distance, the individual marks miraculously resolve into a surprisingly realistic face,” the Akron Art Museum in Ohio said in describing Close’s paintings and prints for an exhibition titled “Familiar Faces: Chuck Close in Ohio Collections.”
Born in Monroe, Wisconsin, Close graduated from the University of Washington, Seattle, and received a MFA from Yale University.
He was married twice, both of which ended in divorce, and is survived by two daughters. | www.wavy.com | Chuck Close, artist of monumental grids, dies at 81 | https://www.wavy.com/entertainment-news/chuck-close-artist-of-monumental-grids-dies-at-81/ |
||||||
[
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:45:36+00:00 | 2021-08-19 22:12:21 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fentertainment-news%2Fbritney-spears-under-investigation-over-battery-of-staff%2F.json | en | FILE – Britney Spears arrives at the 29th annual GLAAD Media Awards on April 12, 2018, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Authorities say they are investigating Spears for misdemeanor battery after a staff member at her home said the singer struck her. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, that deputies responded to Spears home after the staff member reported the Monday night dispute. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Britney Spears is under investigation over misdemeanor battery after a staff member at her home alleged the singer struck her, authorities said Thursday.
Deputies responded to Spears’ home in Southern California after the staff member reported the Monday night dispute, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said.
No one was injured.
Reports taken by deputies will be handed over to prosecutors for consideration, the sheriff’s office said, giving no further details.
Spears’ attorney Matthew Rosengart said in an email that the investigation is “overblown sensational tabloid fodder — nothing more than a manufactured ‘he said she said’ regarding a cellphone, with no striking and obviously no injury whatsoever.”
“Anyone can make an accusation but this should have been closed immediately,” Rosengart said.
Spears has a home in Thousand Oaks, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of downtown Los Angeles.
Spears, 39, hired Rosengartlast month as she seeks to regain greater control of her life 13 years into a court conservatorship that has power over her money and affairs.
In court hearings, Spears called the conservatorship “abusive.”
Rosengart has made his first priority removing Spears’ father, James Spears, from his role as conservator of his finances.
James Spears said in a court filing last week that he has a plan in the works to step down, but gave no timetable. | www.wavy.com | Britney Spears under investigation over battery of staff | https://www.wavy.com/entertainment-news/britney-spears-under-investigation-over-battery-of-staff/ |
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[
"Alexander Zemlianichenko",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:50:01+00:00 | 2021-08-19 06:30:33 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fas-tanks-rolled-in-1991-ap-photographer-sprang-into-action%2F.json | en | FILE – In this Friday, Aug. 23, 1991 file photo, people kick the head of the statue of Felix Dzerzhinsky, the founder of the Soviet secret police, in front of the KGB main headquarters on the Lubyanka Square in Moscow, Russia. The statue was pulled down after the defeat of the August 1991 hardline coup. I was out on the streets, shooting exultant crowds across the city and managed to catch the moment when demonstrators pulled down the statue of Felix Dzerzhinsky, the founder of the Soviet secret police, in front of the KGB main headquarters on the Lubyanka Square – a watershed moment that symbolized the collapse of the repressive Soviet system.(AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
MOSCOW (AP) — On the morning of Aug. 19, 1991, I woke up to a loud rumbling outside. It was the same sound I heard during an earlier showdown between Soviet troops and pro-democracy protesters in Lithuania.
It was the sound of battle tanks.
The ominous noise on that morning 30 years ago was coming from the main state TV headquarters, a 15-minute walk from my apartment building in northern Moscow. When I went outside, I saw troops encircling state broadcast facilities and the massive Ostankino TV tower.
The hundreds of tanks rolled into Moscow after a terse statement was broadcast declaring that Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who was on vacation at the Black Sea, was unfit to govern for health reasons. A group of hard-line Communist Party officials formed what they called the “State Committee on the State of Emergency” to save the country from “chaos and anarchy.”
___
EDITOR’S NOTE: Associated Press photographer Alexander Zemlianichenko rushed into the streets of Moscow on the morning of Aug. 19, 1991, after a group of hard-line Communist Party officials seized power in a coup. The images of demonstrators standing up to the tanks and troops that Zemlianichenko and his AP colleagues made during the tumult and the subsequent collapse of the Soviet Union won the 1992 Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography.
___
That day, my wife and I were supposed to start our vacation in Cyprus — a long-coveted trip that was our first chance to visit the Mediterranean. Instead, I packed my gear and headed to The Associated Press office, located across the river from the government headquarters of the Russian Federation, one of 15 Soviet republics, which was headed by Boris Yeltsin.
Yeltsin was widely seen as the champion of democratic reforms, defying those hard-liners who were trying to preserve Communist Party rule. His offices in a towering riverside building, dubbed the “White House” by Muscovites, served as a rallying point for those who opposed the coup.
When I reached the building, crowds were swarming the tanks sent to surround the building. Some of the tank crews got out of their vehicles and declared that they would side with protesters.
Yeltsin arrived and climbed atop one of the tanks to make a passionate speech, urging people to stand up against the coup plotters.
I spent that chaotic day taking photos of protesters around Yeltsin’s headquarters and running back the office to have my rolls of film developed.
Later in the day, the leaders of the coup defended their actions at a televised news conference, but they appeared nervous and indecisive. As state TV showed Yeltsin defying them, it became increasingly clear that their plot was doomed.
Tensions remained high, however, and three protesters were killed and several others were injured when a crowd tried to stop a convoy of armored vehicles that they believed was heading to storm Yeltsin’s headquarters.
Hours later, on the morning of Aug. 21, Soviet Defense Minister Dmitry Yazov ordered troops to leave Moscow. The next day, Gorbachev flew back to Moscow, and the coup plotters were arrested. One died of a gunshot wound in an apparent suicide.
I was still out on the streets, taking photos of exultant crowds across the city. I caught the moment when demonstrators pulled down a large statue of Felix Dzerzhinsky, the founder of the Soviet secret police, in front of KGB headquarters on Lubyanka Square.
It was a watershed moment that symbolized the collapse of the repressive Soviet system.
The botched putsch dramatically weakened Gorbachev, making Yeltsin the No. 1 political figure and hastening the collapse of the Soviet Union four months later. | www.wavy.com | As tanks rolled in 1991, AP photographer sprang into action | https://www.wavy.com/news/world/as-tanks-rolled-in-1991-ap-photographer-sprang-into-action/ |
||||||
[
"Steve Megargee",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:54:51+00:00 | 2021-08-19 18:18:42 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fsports%2Fap-source-jets-lawson-having-mri-on-injured-achilles%2F.json | en | FILE – This is a 2021 file photo of Carl Lawson of the New York Jets NFL football team. Jets star defensive end Carl Lawson was carted off the field Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, with an apparent leg injury during the team’s joint practice with the Green Pay Packers. (AP Photo/File)
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — New York Jets defensive end Carl Lawson will miss the season after rupturing his Achilles in practice Thursday, a devastating loss for a team seeking to turn the corner under new coach Robert Saleh.
Backup safety Zane Lewis also suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Both players were carted off the field during Thursday’s joint practice session with the Green Bay Packers.
The Jets announced later in the day that Lawson had ruptured his Achilles while Lewis had torn his patella tendon and sprained his medial collateral ligament.
The loss of Lawson will force the Jets to retool their defensive line under Saleh, who spent the past four seasons as the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator.
While the news on Lawson is a tough blow to the Jets’ defense, Saleh is no stranger to dealing with injuries and still being able to thrive. The 49ers ranked No. 5 in total yards allowed last season despite the losses of Nick Bosa, Solomon Thomas, Dee Ford, Richard Sherman and Ezekiel Ansah because of injuries.
Bryce Huff, an undrafted free agent last year out of Memphis, is the favorite to get an opportunity to replace Lawson as a primary pass rusher for the Jets.
Lawson signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Jets in March after totaling 20 sacks over his first four NFL seasons in Cincinnati. He was having an outstanding training camp, undoubtedly among the Jets’ top performers this summer.
His injury occurred during the Jets’ red-zone drills period while facing the Packers’ offense. Lawson fell while rushing the passer and stayed down as trainers immediately raced to the defensive end.
The music playing over the speakers at practice was turned down as concerned teammates gathered around Lawson. He hopped up after a few minutes and was taken from the field on a cart.
The 23-year-old Lewis was entering his second season with the Jets and was making the switch from cornerback, the position he has played most of his career, to safety. He was having a solid transition with a good camp, intercepting three passes in team drills during camp.
Lewis played at the Air Force Academy and was the first Air Force senior to apply for — and receive — deferred service time. He went undrafted last year, but signed with Arizona and spent last summer with the Cardinals before getting cut late in camp. The Jets claimed him the next day.
He was among the Jets’ final cuts last year, but was signed to the practice squad, where he spent the season.
Lawson and Lewis weren’t the only Jets to get injured Thursday. Defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins hurt his knee and wide receiver Denzel Mims injured his hip.
The Jets said Rankin and Mims were both day to day with minor injuries.
This marked the second straight day that the Jets and Packers had joint practice sessions in advance of their exhibition game Saturday at Lambeau Field.
___
AP Pro Football Writer Dennis Waszak Jr. in New York contributed to this report.
___
More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | www.wavy.com | Jets’ defense loses Lawson, Lewis to season-ending injuries | https://www.wavy.com/sports/ap-source-jets-lawson-having-mri-on-injured-achilles/ |
||||||
[
"Matthew Brown",
"Associated Press",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:46:44+00:00 | 2021-08-19 13:37:05 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fbusiness%2Fclimate-impact-of-coal-sales-from-us-lands-scrutinized%2F.json | en | FILE – In this April 4, 2013, file photo, a mechanized shovel loads a haul truck that can carry up to 250 tons of coal at the Spring Creek coal mine near Decker, Mont. On Thursday, June 3, 2021, a U.S. judge has rejected the Biden administration’s attempt to delay a lawsuit from several states and environmentalists who are seeking to end lease sales for coal mining on federal lands. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File)
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — U.S. officials launched a review Thursday of climate damage and other impacts from coal mining on public lands as the Biden administration expands its scrutiny of government fossil fuel sales that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
The review also will consider if companies are paying fair value for coal extracted from public reserves in Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Utah and other states, according to a federal register notice outlining the administration’s intents.
Coal combustion for electricity remains one of the top sources of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, even after many power plants shut down over the past decade because of concerns over pollution.
Almost half the nation’s annual coal production — some 250 million tons last fiscal year — is mined by private companies from leases on federal land, primarily in Western states.
Coal lease sales were temporarily shut down under President Barack Obama because of climate concerns, then revived under President Donald Trump as he sought to bolster the declining industry.
Among President Joe Biden’s first actions in his first week in office was to suspend oil and gas lease sales — a move later blocked by a federal judge — and he faced pressure from environmental groups to take similar action against coal.
Few leases have been sold in recent years as coal demand shrank drastically, but the industry’s opponents want to ensure it can’t make a comeback as wildfires, drought, rising sea levels and other effects of climate change worsen, according to a report last week from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
The Interior Department review will consider the effects of coal mining on air quality and the local environment, whether leasing decisions should consider if the fuel will be exported, and how coal supports the nation’s energy needs.
The agency said it will take 30 days of public comment and plans to announce its next steps by November.
The coal program brought in $387 million for federal and state coffers through royalties and other payments last year, according to government data. It supports thousands of jobs and has been fiercely defended by industry representatives, Republicans in Congress and officials in coal producing states.
“Our public lands are intended for multiple uses, including the production of affordable, reliable energy for all Americans, and we look forward to providing comment throughout the government’s review,” said Ashley Burke with the National Mining Association, an industry lobbying group.
California, New York, New Mexico and Washington state sued after then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke revived coal lease sales in 2017. The Northern Cheyenne Tribe, joined by the Sierra Club and other environmental groups, also filed a legal challenge, while state officials from Wyoming and Montana argued against reviving the moratorium.
The Biden administration had sought to delay the legal challenges, but a federal judge said in June that the states and environmentalists faced potential damage if the case got stalled. U.S. District Judge Brian Morris cited pending lease applications for thousands of acres of federal land holding at least 1 billion tons of coal.
Interior officials said the review would not impact pending lease sales and modifications, or permits to dig existing leases. They also pledged to hold direct talks with Native American tribes that could be affected. A small number of tribes have coal, while others historically have opposed development.
Thursday’s action was referred to as a “good first step” by Earthjustice attorney Jenny Harbine, who represents environmental groups and the Northern Cheyenne in the legal dispute. But she and others said they’ll keep pressing Biden to end all coal, oil and gas extractions from U.S. lands.
“We’re sitting here in record heat and choking wildfires,” Harbine said. “There couldn’t be a more important time of the administration to take action to end fossil fuel production from our federal lands.”
In 2017 and 2018, the government sold leases for 134 million tons of coal on public land in six states, according to figures provided by the Interior Department. That’s a relatively small amount compared with previous years, for example 2011 and 2012, when more than 2 billion tons were sold in Wyoming alone.
Growing concerns over climate change have put a new spotlight on the coal program, which had operated largely in obscurity since the major environmental reviews in the 1970s and 1980s, including a 1983 Government Accountability Office report that the government received about $100 million less than it should have in one large lease sale.
Extracting and burning fossil fuels from federal land generates the equivalent of 1.4 billion tons (1.3 billion metric tons) annually of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, according to a 2018 report from the U.S. Geological Survey. That’s equivalent to almost one-quarter of total U.S. carbon dioxide emissions.
Over the past decade, oil and gas have eclipsed coal to become the biggest human source of greenhouse gas emissions from public lands and waters, federal production data indicates. | www.wavy.com | Climate impact of coal sales from US lands scrutinized | https://www.wavy.com/news/business/climate-impact-of-coal-sales-from-us-lands-scrutinized/ |
||||||
[
"Aya Batrawy",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:49:42+00:00 | 2021-08-19 18:18:29 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fafghan-president-latest-leader-on-the-run-to-turn-up-in-uae%2F.json | en | FILE – In this June 25, 2021 file photo, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is seated after his meeting with President Joe Biden in Washington. The United Arab Emirates and Qatar, a few hours by plane from the Afghan capital, have much in common, despite their sharp political differences. Both have close security partnerships with the United States and both have taken in political fugitives and exiled leaders on the run. Ghani surfaced in Abu Dhabi after the Taliban swept into Kabul on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. The Taliban’s political leadership for years resided in Qatar. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Afghanistan’s president, driven out by the Taliban, is the latest leader on the run to turn up in the United Arab Emirates. Others who found refuge here include Spain’s disgraced former king and two Thai prime ministers.
In nearby Qatar, meanwhile, the Taliban’s political leaders have been given refuge for years.
Qatar and the UAE have much in common, despite their sharp political differences. The two Gulf Arab states have close security partnerships with the United States and both have taken in political fugitives and exiled leaders on the run.
The skylines of Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai offer an array of stunning high-rise towers and opulent five-star hotels. Man-made coastlines provide reclusive, palatial waterfront properties — plenty of options for political exiles looking for privacy and a place to park their money.
But most importantly, these cities built by vast underground reserves of oil and gas provide near-guaranteed security to controversial, once powerful figures. Iris-scanning technology at the airport, untold numbers of security cameras, and widespread surveillance helps ensure protection — as does an autocratic grip on power.
It’s perhaps why Afghan President Ashraf Ghani surfaced in Abu Dhabi after the Taliban swept into Kabul on Sunday and why the Taliban’s political leaders have for years resided in Qatar.
The UAE announced late Wednesday it had accepted hosting Ghani and his family, citing humanitarian grounds — even as members of his own government slammed the Afghan president for his escape from Kabul.
Over the past year, Qatar has hosted talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government, and before that, between the Taliban and the United States as Washington hashed out the terms of its withdrawal from Afghanistan and an end to its 20-year war. Top Taliban political leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar returned to Afghanistan this week from his residence in Qatar.
The role the UAE and Qatar have played as hosts to wanted politicians and top figures gives them potential leverage — political chips that can be played or held for a later date.
“Qatar has positioned itself as the go-to mediator with the Taliban. It was a risky bet, especially considering the optics with the wider public, but it paid off,” said Cinzia Bianco, Gulf research fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
“Now, Qatar is well-positioned to be the first contact point for regional and international players who want to explore the possibility of engaging with the Taliban … without compromising themselves,” she added.
The Taliban’s capture of Kabul was so swift that by nightfall the same day, gun-toting Taliban commanders were seated at Ghani’s desk in the presidential palace. Meanwhile, thousands of Afghan citizens and foreigners are still scrambling to flee the country.
Just this week, a senior U.S. military commander met face-to-face with the Taliban in Doha to negotiate the safe passageof thousands of people wanting to leave Afghanistan, underscoring the crucial role Qatar is playing amid the muddled U.S. exit.
The UAE and Qatar are also staging grounds for key U.S. military operations. Qatar’s al-Udeid Air Base hosts some 10,000 American troops. Americans also fly out of the al-Dhafra Air Base near Abu Dhabi.
“Each country is positioning itself in the best way possible to pursue its interests in this crisis,” said senior Mideast adviser at Crisis Group, Dina Esfandiary.
She says that while Qatar’s bet as “regional mediator” seems to have paid off, it remains to be seen how it will work out in the long term. For its part, the UAE aims to show its ally the United States that it too is a reliable partner, she said.
From his new base in the UAE, Ghani released a video statement Wednesday, for the first time since escaping Kabul. He made a point of mentioning he was forced to leave Afghanistan “with one set of traditional clothes, a vest and the sandals” he was wearing.
To live in the UAE, however, he’ll need a lot more than that. The country’s cost of living is as sky-high as its towers, even if some support is offered.
Afghanistan’s ambassador to Tajikistan accused Ghani on Wednesday of stealing $169 million from state coffers and said he’d call for his arrest via Interpol. Russia’s embassy in Kabul allegedthat Ghani fled Kabul with four cars and a helicopter full of cash. He had so much money he couldn’t fit it all, and left cash lying on the tarmac, Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti quoted the embassy spokesperson as saying.
The AP could not independently verify the claims. The Western-backed Afghan government he presided over has long been rife with corruption.
Ghani joins a roster of high-profile exiles who’ve sought shelter in the UAE in past years. Some have resided in Abu Dhabi, others in the UAE’s commercial and tourism hub of Dubai.
Siblings and former Thai prime ministers, Thaksin Shinawatra and Yingluck Shinawatra — the former ousted in a military coup amid charges of corruption, the other fleeing a criminal conviction — are among them.
For years before her return to Pakistan where she was assassinated in 2007, so did ex-Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Another ex-Pakistani prime minister, Pervez Musharraf, maintains his base as Dubai. He was sentenced at home to death for treason, a sentence that a high Pakistani court later annulled.
Others include former Spanish King Juan Carlos, who is facing financial probe; Palestinian figure Mohammed Dahlan, who was banished by his party and sentenced to prison, and Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh, the eldest son of Yemen’s longtime leader who was also assassinated.
___
Follow Aya Batrawy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ayaelb | www.wavy.com | Afghan president latest leader on the run to turn up in UAE | https://www.wavy.com/news/world/afghan-president-latest-leader-on-the-run-to-turn-up-in-uae/ |
||||||
[
"Sam Metz",
"Associated Press",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:48:54+00:00 | 2021-08-19 20:01:34 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fnevada-lt-gov-kate-marshall-to-resign-for-white-house-job%2F.json | en | FILE – In this Oct. 20, 2018, file photo, Kate Marshall speaks to supporters during her campaign for lieutenant governor, at a rally in downtown Las Vegas. Marshall said on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, that she is resigning her position as Lieutenant Governor and is accepting a position in President Joe Biden’s administration as Senior Advisor to Governors in the federal Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. She plans to continue serving as Lieutenant Governor until the fall. (Christopher DeVargas/Las Vegas Sun via AP, File)
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada Lt. Gov. Kate Marshall said Thursday she has accepted a position in President Joe Biden’s administration and will resign from her job as lieutenant governor.
“In many ways, I will work on the same issues I have during my time in elected office: to ensure that the American Dream can be reached by all who seek it in Nevada and our country,” Marshall said in a statement.
Marshall will serve as senior advisor to governors in the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and will continue as lieutenant governor until transitioning in late fall, according to her office.
“Her experience as a leader during Nevada’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic will bolster the administration’s continued efforts to fight the pandemic and get as many Americans vaccinated as possible,” said Julie Rodriguez, the federal office’s director.
The move, first reported by the Nevada Independent, allows Gov. Steve Sisolak to appoint a new lieutenant governor to serve until the 2022 election or leave the position vacant. Sisolak told the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Tuesday that he was excited for Marshall and did not know if or when he would appoint a successor.
Marshall is not the first Nevada politician to be appointed to a Biden administration position. Both she and former state Sen. Yvanna Cancela endorsed Biden ahead of the 2020 Nevada caucuses. Cancela was appointed to a position in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services but later resigned to return as Sisolak’s chief of staff.
Marshall served two terms as state treasurer before being elected lieutenant governor in 2018, defeating former state Senate Majority Leader, Republican Michael Roberson. She ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House in a 2011 special election and for secretary of state in 2014.
The lieutenant governor presides over the state Senate and chairs the state commission on tourism, but does not have as well defined a purview as other state-level officers. During her three-year tenure, Marshall has worked on initiatives to provide aid to small businesses and encourage residents to participate in the 2020 U.S. Census. She also pushed a bill through the Legislature to recognize “dark sky places” and support stargazing tourism in rural Nevada.
Christina Lopez, the lieutenant governor’s chief of staff, said Marshall was the consummate public servant.
“It’s impossible to convince her to put a file in the drawer and give up because, to her, she knows that behind every project there’s a community or person waiting for a solution,” Lopez said.
___
Sam Metz is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. | www.wavy.com | Nevada Lt. Gov. Kate Marshall to resign for White House job | https://www.wavy.com/news/politics/nevada-lt-gov-kate-marshall-to-resign-for-white-house-job/ |
||||||
[
"Melissa Nott",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:53:16+00:00 | 2021-08-19 17:30:11 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Feducation-br%2Fparenting-br%2Fbest-ways-to-help-your-kid-focus-on-their-homework%2F.json | en | Some kids lose their focus when tasks seem overwhelming. Help your child break that mountainous assignment into small chunks and allow them to take breaks in between sections. Praise them for meeting their goals.
BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.
Tips to help your kids focus on homework
Sometimes, the last thing a kid wants to do is sit down and do their homework. Your job as a parent or guardian is to make sure they do it anyway.
These focus-friendly products can help your child concentrate on math, writing, science or whatever they’ve got in their school bag. A simple fidget toy or wiggle cushion may be all it takes to keep a child focused, but a larger investment like a new desk or laptop may also help.
How to help kids focus
Top wiggle seat
Storex Wiggle Stool
What you need to know: The concept behind this stool is that the lower body is free to wiggle while the upper body remains still, allowing the right hemisphere of the brain to focus.
What you’ll love: The seat has carrying handles, is height-adjustable and can hold up to 250 pounds. In addition to helping kids focus, it’s great for posture and the core and back muscles. Lots of color choices are available.
What you should consider: Because it is wobbly, it should not be used as a stepstool.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Staples
Top wiggle seat for the money
Bouncy Bands Wiggle Seat Sensory Cushion
What you need to know: This inflatable cushion allows your child to wiggle in their chair, releasing excess energy while remaining seated for work.
What you’ll love: Comes with an air pump for inflation so you can customize the firmness. Portable for use in multiple places. The nubs on the seat provide sensory stimulation in addition to an outlet for gross motor movement. Several color choices are available.
What you should consider: Some kids dislike the feel of the sensory nubs.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Staples
Top reading guide strips
Luigi’s Reading Strips with Colored Overlays
What you need to know: These inexpensive and colorful reading guide strips help with visual processing and reduce eye strain so readers can stay focused on the text.
What you’ll love: These strips are great for larger fonts like those seen in early elementary reading material, and kids don’t need to adjust them with each line. The overlays come in many kid-friendly color choices and include a horizontal line for the eye to focus on the text.
What you should consider: The larger size may not appeal to some readers.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top reading guide strips for the money
Ashley Reading Guide Strips
What you need to know: Kids track text through the printed yellow window of these thin, affordable reading strips.
What you’ll love: This is a low-cost pack of 12 sturdy strips. The colorful band reinforces visual discrimination between printed text and blank space. Suitable for older students.
What you should consider: Only one color choice: yellow.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Staples
Top reward chart
Youngever Laminated Dry Erase Incentive Charts
What you need to know: A reward chart gives kids a visual means to track their progress and reminds them of their goals. If you incentivize your child’s homework performance, this is a great way to monitor it.
What you’ll love: The simple design appeals to older kids. This six-piece set has six color choices. The charts are coated with PET film, which wipes clean if you choose to use dry-erase markers. Star stickers included.
What you should consider: The chart does not have pre-printed text, so you will have to add your own headings. It may be difficult to completely remove dry erase ink from the surface.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top reward chart for the money
CutePartyDash Editable Donut Chart
What you need to know: An inexpensive way to personalize a print-at-home incentive chart.
What you’ll love: You can play around with the template before you buy it. Once you purchase, you get instant access to the chart via download. You can edit it to suit your child’s homework tasks and goals.
What you should consider: This is a print-out, so it’s on you to supply the paper and ink.
Where to buy: Available through Etsy
Top fidget toy
Fi-gent Sensory Toy Fidget Bundle
What you need to know: For some kids, having something to fidget with can ease anxiety and sharpen focus. If you’re unsure which type of fidget toy would be best for your student, we recommend this bundle so you can sample a variety of toys.
What you’ll love: The variety is outstanding, especially for the price. You get squishies, stress balls, marble toys, squeeze toys and more.
What you should consider: For kids under age three, these toys could pose a choking hazard.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top fidget toy for the money
Tenacitee Simple Dimple Fidget Toys (2-piece set)
What you need to know: This set of two fidget spinners includes a dimple element that allows the user to rotate, press and pop to their heart’s content.
What you’ll love: These are inexpensive, well-made and colorful with smooth bearing action. This is a three-leaf option, but you can also select a five-leaf option for a slightly higher price.
What you should consider: Fidget spinners are easily lost. They can also pose a choking hazard for young children and pets.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top educational poster
Blulu Educational Math Posters for Kids
What you need to know: A visual aid that simplifies the task at hand may be all that’s needed to keep kids plugging away at their studies. This assortment of math fact posters is handy for kids in elementary and middle school who are struggling to complete math homework.
What you’ll love: Bright, colorful information is printed on film-covered cardstock. Information is helpful for early and late elementary students, but it may also be helpful for older kids.
What you should consider: Your student may already be proficient at some of what is featured on the posters.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top educational poster for the money
Teacher Created Resources Multiplication Chart
What you need to know: Until a student gets their multiplication facts down, math class can be a struggle. Lighten your child’s load with this easy-to-read multiplication chart created by teachers.
What you’ll love: Easy to read and understand. The poster is shiny with a protective coating (not lamination).
What you should consider: The poster is flimsy because it is made of paper and not laminated.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top student desk
ECR4Kids Open-Front Student Desk
What you need to know: This desk confines the student to a small space. It will feel a lot like a desk they might use at school, which may boost concentration.
What you’ll love: The desk has sturdy metal legs and a durable top made of oak or maple. It is adjustable to the child’s height. The open-front design provides easy access to supplies and the pencil well holds writing utensils in place.
What you should consider: This desk has a utilitarian aesthetic that might not go with the rest of your decor.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top student desk for the money
Mavo Craft Student Lap Desk
What you need to know: This portable lap desk goes wherever your student does, so homework can get done at home, in the car and elsewhere.
What you’ll love: This is a low-cost lap desk with ample interior storage. It can hold a laptop. The legs fold down for storage.
What you should consider: This is not a very large or sturdy desk because of its portability.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top student laptop
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5
What you need to know: This well-built laptop would nicely serve a high school student who needs a portable 2-in-1 for homework and class presentations.
What you’ll love: It starts quickly, is easy to use and has a touchscreen for kids who excel with hands-on learning. A digital pen is an optional extra that students who doodle and draw will love.
What you should consider: The cost and features make it ideal for older kids.
Where to buy: Sold by Lenovo and Amazon
Top student laptop for the money
Acer Chromebook Spin 311
What you need to know: This inexpensive laptop doubles as a tablet. With its touchscreen, decent battery life and budget price, it’s a good choice for younger kids with occasional online homework.
What you’ll love: It’s slim and lightweight with a fast connection.
What you should consider: Chromebooks are not the most ideal tool for storing and printing multiple documents. It may not be the best choice for older students.
Where to buy: Sold by Acer and Amazon
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Melissa Nott writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | www.wavy.com | Best ways to help your kid focus on their homework | https://www.wavy.com/reviews/br/education-br/parenting-br/best-ways-to-help-your-kid-focus-on-their-homework/ |
||||||
[
"David Koenig",
"Associated Press",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:46:57+00:00 | 2021-08-19 18:52:21 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fbusiness%2Fin-unfriendly-skies-unruly-passenger-fines-top-1-million%2F.json | en | FILE – In this Feb. 18, 2021 file photo, a passenger wears a face mask to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus as he waits for a Delta Airlines flight at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. Federal officials are seeking fines against 34 more airline passengers accused of unruly behavior, bringing the total of such penalties to more than $1 million this year. The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021 that the latest fines — which people can challenge — are part of its crackdown against incidents on planes, most of them involving passengers who refuse to wear face masks. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, file)
Rowdy airline passengers have now racked up a record $1 million in potential fines this year, a toll of the tumult in the sky as travelers have returned after most were grounded by the pandemic in 2020.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced the latest cases Thursday, involving 34 travelers who flew between January and May. Their offenses ranged from refusing to wear a face mask, as required by a federal rule, to punching a flight attendant in the nose.
Those are just the latest among dozens of enforcement cases that the FAA called part of its crackdown against passengers who interfere with airline crews.
Airlines have reported about 3,900 incidents of unruly passengers this year, and three-fourths involve refusal to wear a mask, according to the FAA.
Alcohol is another common factor. American Airlines on Thursday extended its ban on alcohol sales in the main cabin through Jan. 18, matching the timing of the federal mask mandate. American still sells alcohol to passengers in business and first-class sections.
An FAA spokeswoman confirmed that $1 million is a single-year record for proposed fines against passengers, who can appeal. The FAA has started investigations against 682 travelers this year, smashing the previous high of 310 in 2004.
The latest round of cases includes two fines that could top $40,000.
On a JetBlue flight in May, a man threw his carry-on bag at other passengers, grabbed a flight attendant by the ankles and put his head up her skirt before he was restrained with plastic ties. The FAA wants to fine him $45,000.
The FAA is seeking a $42,000 fine against a man who refused to wear a mask on another JetBlue flight in May and threatened other passengers, including making stabbing gestures toward some. Crew members confiscated a bag containing a substance the man was snorting, then armed themselves with ice mallets before police took him off the plane.
The FAA did not identify any of the passengers, including a man who allegedly punched a flight attendant in the nose during a third JetBlue flight. Although police were called in several cases, it was not clear how many of the passengers called out by FAA face criminal charges.
This month, the head of the FAA asked airport officials around the country to work with local law enforcement to prosecute more cases. The FAA does not have authority to file criminal charges.
Air travel in the U.S. has returned to nearly 80% of pre-pandemic levels, but airlines have cut the number of flights by a similar amount, resulting in crowded planes.
Bad weather and lack of crews after airlines cut staff last year have contributed to tens of thousands of canceled and delayed flights this summer, according to figures from tracking service FlightAware, making travel even more stressful than before. | www.wavy.com | In unfriendly skies, unruly passenger fines top $1 million | https://www.wavy.com/news/business/in-unfriendly-skies-unruly-passenger-fines-top-1-million/ |
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[
"John Zenor",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:54:45+00:00 | 2021-08-19 21:31:10 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fsports%2Falabamas-young-embraces-expectations-says-not-distractions%2F.json | en | Alabama quarterback Bryce Young (9) rolls out on a passing drill during the NCAA college football team’s practice Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young has made lucrative deals before starting his first college game, but he doesn’t think that or the preseason hype surrounding him will be a distraction.
To Young, the “culture” that Nick Saban has created for the program won’t allow it.
“I think really it says a lot about Alabama, and it’s honestly not too hard with the coaching that we have,” Young said Thursday. “Coach Saban from Day 1 when all the external stuff started to pop up — and it’s been going on for a while with there being whatever distractions there may be — that’s something we preach a lot about making sure we keep the main thing the main thing.
“We’ve talked a lot about that in-house, and that’s something that we live by.”
Young spoke via Zoom in his first interview with reporters since arriving in Tuscaloosa as the country’s top dual-threat quarterback prospect in the class of 2020.
Saban said in July that Young already had received nearly seven figures’ worth of name, image and likeness deals. The sophomore from California is set to replace Heisman Trophy finalist Mac Jones at quarterback when the Crimson Tide open Sept. 4 against Miami in Atlanta.
Other than mop-up duties, Young hadn’t been seen all that much by Alabama fans before the spring game.
Then he showed off his athleticism and arm, passing for 333 yards and a 59-yard touchdown to tight end Cameron Latu.
The next game he suits up for will be real. Even while replacing Jones — and despite the Tide losing four other first-round NFL draft picks from the offense — Young will lead a team picked preseason No. 1 and favored to repeat as national champions.
He’s OK with those expectations after leading high school powerhouse Mater Dei in Santa Ana, California, where he took over for current Georgia starter JT Daniels.
“There obviously are expectations, but regardless of what happened in high school or any past experiences I’ve had, coming to Bama is where you come for pressure and come for expectations,” Young said. “Everyone here when they signed on the dotted line and decided to come here, we knew it was going to come with expectations.
“Saban sets that standard for us immediately during recruiting and when we step into the building, so it’s not something I was blindsided by.”
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | www.wavy.com | Alabama’s Young embraces expectations, says not distractions | https://www.wavy.com/sports/alabamas-young-embraces-expectations-says-not-distractions/ |
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[
"Raf Casert",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:50:35+00:00 | 2021-08-19 10:25:41 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Feu-foreign-chief-calls-fall-of-kabul-catastrophe%2F.json | en | Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, left, Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani, walks to attend the Central and South Asia 2021 conference in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Friday, July 16, 2021. (AP Photo)
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s foreign policy chief on Thursday called the fall of Afghanistan’s capital and the resurgence of the Taliban “a catastrophe” and “nightmare” that laid bare a failure of intelligence and trans-Atlantic cooperation.
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell further criticized U.S. President Joe Biden for underplaying the commitment to nation-building in Afghanistan. Borrell insisted that instilling the rule of law and achieving basic rights for women and minorities were goals of the Western military intervention in the country, along with the initial goal of stamping out terrorism emanating from the region.
“President Biden said the other day that it has never been the purpose, state building was not the purpose. Well, this is arguable,” Borrell told a European Parliament committee.
“Twenty years on, you can say that we may have succeeded in the first tack of our mission, but failed in the second,” the Spanish politician said as EU lawmakers heaped on criticism of the West’s lack of commitment to Afghanistan.
Borrell also criticized intelligence agencies for failing to anticipate the collapse of the Afghan force in almost days instead of months.
“Where (was) our intelligence in order to have a clear look at what was going to happen? Nobody was expecting it. I don’t even (think) the Taliban were expecting it,” he said.
He said a talk with ousted Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, already foretold trouble was up.
“He was very bitter. And he was really worried about the possibility of keeping the country (safe from) the Taliban offensive,” Borrell said.
A major strategic task lies ahead, he said.
“What we cannot do is to let the Chinese and Russians to take control of the situation,” Borrell said. “We could become irrelevant.”
Borrell said 106 staff members of EU delegations and their families had safely left Afghanistan and landed in Madrid, while at least 300 remain behind.
“There are still 300 more Afghani staff of European Union delegations blocked on the streets of Kabul trying to reach the airport and trying to have a seat on some of the European Union member state flights,” Borrell said.
“These people have loyally promoted and defended the union interests and values in Afghanistan over many years,” he said, adding that it was the EU’s “moral duty to protect them and to have to save as many people as possible.” | www.wavy.com | EU foreign chief calls fall of Kabul “catastrophe” | https://www.wavy.com/news/world/eu-foreign-chief-calls-fall-of-kabul-catastrophe/ |
||||||
[
"Nathan Crawford",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Jason Marks"
] | 2021-08-20 01:47:56+00:00 | 2021-08-20 00:55:54 | The event, scheduled on August 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., will feature food, fun and supplies for students and families. | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Flocal-news%2Fwilliamsburg%2F6th-annual-give-back-event-set-to-return-to-williamsburg-free-school-supplies-and-covid-vaccine-offered%2F.json | en | WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY) — Real People Educating Others (RPEO) and the 757 Giveback Committee are set to host the 6th Annual Give Back event at Lafayette High School in Williamsburg.
The event, scheduled on August 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., will feature food, fun and supplies for students and families. Those attending will be able to take advantage of things such as rock painting, sticker tattoos, free haircuts and ID A Kid.
Event organizers say there will also be 15 vendors onsite giving out information and resources.
Officials with the Williamsburg Drug Company will also be onsite offering the Pfizer vaccine for people ages 12 and over. Pre-registration for the vaccine is required. | www.wavy.com | 6th Annual Give Back event set to return to Williamsburg; free school supplies and COVID vaccine offered | https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/williamsburg/6th-annual-give-back-event-set-to-return-to-williamsburg-free-school-supplies-and-covid-vaccine-offered/ |
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[
"Yuri Kageyama",
"Associated Press",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:47:18+00:00 | 2021-08-19 12:58:14 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fbusiness%2Ftoyota-slashes-production-on-pandemic-related-parts-shortage%2F.json | en | FILE – In this April 28, 2020, file photo, an employee wearing a face mask works on a Yaris car at the Toyota car factory in Onnaing, northern France. Toyota announced Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, is scaling back 40% of its production, affecting 14 auto assembly plants in Japan, as the surging coronavirus pandemic in southeast Asia crimps the parts supply. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler, File)
TOKYO (AP) — Toyota is scaling back production in North America and Japan as the surging coronavirus pandemic in Southeast Asia and elsewhere crimps supplies.
Japan’s top automaker said Thursday that it will cut back production at home by 40%, affecting 14 auto assembly plants in the country.
In North America, Toyota said it expects August production to be slashed by 60,000 to 90,000 vehicles. A representative from Toyota said that output fluctuates month to month, but that it would equate to a production cut of between 40% and 60%.
“Due to COVID-19 and unexpected events with our supply chain, Toyota is experiencing additional shortages that will affect production at most of our North American plants,” the company said in a prepared statement Thursday. “While the situation remains fluid and complex, our manufacturing and supply chain teams have worked diligently to develop countermeasures to minimize the impact on production.”
The company said production cuts in North America are not expected to have an impact on staffing levels.
In Japan, production will halt completely next month at some plants and partly at others, affecting a wide range of models, including the Corolla subcompact, Prius hybrid and Land Cruiser sport utility vehicle.
Global production for September will decline by 360,000 vehicles, according to Toyota Motor Corp. But it stuck to its annual forecast to produce 9.3 million vehicles, as coronavirus risks were figured in.
Of the lost production out of Japan, 140,000 vehicles are for Japan and 220,000 for overseas, with 80,000 in the U.S., 40,000 in Europe, 80,000 in China, 8,000 in the rest of Asia and about 10,000 in other regions.
Toyota had already announced smaller production cuts for July and August in Japan.
“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to our customers and suppliers due to these changes,” Toyota said.
A shortage of the computer chips used widely in vehicles has been problematic for months as the world appeared to emerge from the pandemic and demand surged. Toyota had not been hit as hard as some other major automakers, and now the spread of the delta variant has introduced new complications.
David Leggett, auto analyst at GlobalData, said auto demand is now down in Vietnam, and sales have already been hurt in some markets for all manufacturers.
“The pandemic is clearly far from over and appears, as far as the auto industry’s recovery path is concerned, to have a sting in the tail,” he said.
Toyota has held up relatively well amid the pandemic, racking up a record profit for the April-June quarter at about $8 billion, an increase of more than fivefold from the same period the previous year.
___
Auto Writer Tom Krisher and AP Business Writer Michelle Chapman contributed to this report.
Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama | www.wavy.com | Under delta, supply chain strains, Toyota slashes production | https://www.wavy.com/news/business/toyota-slashes-production-on-pandemic-related-parts-shortage/ |
||||||
[
"David Porter",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:55:17+00:00 | 2021-08-19 16:28:38 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fsports%2Fformer-womens-hoops-player-added-to-suit-against-seton-hall%2F.json | en | FILE – Seton Hall’s Myles Powell sets up a play during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Villanova in Newark, N.J., in this Wednesday, March 4, 2020, file photo. A former women’s basketball player at Seton Hall University has been added to a lawsuit filed against the school by former men’s player Myles Powell over what they claim were misdiagnosed knee injuries. In an amended complaint to Powell’s lawsuit filed Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, Jasmine Smith alleges team staff told her she’d suffered a bone bruise during practice in the fall of 2020. She alleged she was cleared to play and played the rest of the season despite suffering knee pain and swelling. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
A former women’s basketball player at Seton Hall University has been added to a lawsuit filed against the school by former men’s player Myles Powell over what they claim were misdiagnosed knee injuries.
In an amended complaint to Powell’s lawsuit filed Tuesday, Jasmine Smith alleges team staff told her she’d suffered a bone bruise during practice in the fall of 2020. She alleged she was cleared to play and played the rest of the season despite suffering knee pain and swelling.
After Smith graduated from Seton Hall and sought to use a final year of basketball eligibility at Loyola Marymount University, an MRI showed more extensive damage that forced her to undergo surgery and will require a second procedure, the lawsuit claims.
The injury will force Smith to miss the upcoming basketball season and has damaged her hopes of playing professionally in Europe, according to the suit.
Both Powell and Smith allege gross negligence, fraudulent concealment and breach of contract in the lawsuit. The suit seeks unspecified damages.
“Seton Hall University has always and continues to put the health and safety of our students first,” a school spokesperson said in an email. “We are aware of the matter, but are unable to comment on pending litigation.”
Powell’s lawsuit filed last month claimed the failure of the South Orange, New Jersey-based school, coach Kevin Willard and staffer Tony Testa to correctly diagnose a knee injury led to physical and financial damage. Powell was Seton Hall’s third all-time leading scorer and was the Big East Conference player of the year in 2019-2020 but wasn’t drafted by the NBA last year after teams learned of the extent of the injury, the lawsuit claims.
The suit alleged Powell was misdiagnosed with an ankle injury early in the 2019-20 season, when it was actually a lateral meniscus tear to his right knee. The suit further alleges the high-scoring guard was not told of the extent of his injury and the failure to treat it properly caused permanent damage.
In a response filed this month, the school argued that it is shielded from Powell’s negligence claims under state law governing schools, charities or other nonprofit institutions. It also argued Powell’s other claims of breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty misinterpret the law.
___
More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/College-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | www.wavy.com | Former women’s hoops player added to suit against Seton Hall | https://www.wavy.com/sports/former-womens-hoops-player-added-to-suit-against-seton-hall/ |
||||||
[
"Brett Martel",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:56:24+00:00 | 2021-08-19 17:07:36 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fsports%2Fsaints-alter-season-ticket-refund-policy-amid-scrutiny%2F.json | en | FILE – Fans arrive at the Louisiana Superdome before an NFL football game between the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants in New Orleans, in this Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009, file photo. Amid public and political scrutiny, the New Orleans Saints have adopted a new refund policy allowing fans to relinquish their season tickets and get their money back. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Amid public and political scrutiny, the New Orleans Saints have adopted a new refund policy allowing fans to relinquish their season tickets and get their money back.
The Saints plan to fill the 73,000-seat Superdome for home games this season but have said that, in accordance with various local and state protocols, only fans who wear masks and show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours before a game may attend.
The Saints previously stated that fans who had chosen to maintain their ticket accounts for this season would not be eligible for refunds as they had been in 2020, when government restrictions prevented large crowds in the dome.
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican who opposes mask mandates, called on state officials Wednesday to withhold funding for ongoing improvements of the state-owned Superdome unless the Saints agreed to provide refunds.
The Saints, in turn, announced the new refund policy on Thursday, noting that just 120 account holders previously requested refunds — and that anyone else who wants a refund must make a request by Tuesday.
Still, state financing for ongoing improvements at the Superdome was stalled Thursday by the Bond Commission.
Republican Senate President Page Cortez said he wanted to make sure the New Orleans Saints gave ticketholders enough time to seek refunds if they don’t want to meet entry requirements, or if they’re worried about crowd sizes during the latest COVID-19 surge.
Cortez said he wanted more time to review the refund policy and make sure the NFL organization was acting responsibly to the “taxpayers that buy their tickets and rent their suites” and are helping to finance the Superdome upgrades.
“Last season, we made the decision to offer refunds or rollover accounts to the following season because we knew government regulations would not allow us to fulfill a full season of attendance,” Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said.
“This is not the case this season. Based on current city and state regulations allowing full capacity, we did not plan to offer refunds for season tickets, as has been our standard policy.”
However, Bensel noted, the Saints have received “thousands of calls” from fans wanting to purchase season tickets made available by current account holders seeking refunds.
“Our preference is to have these loyal fans in the seats” rather than see other fans who’d previously requested refunds sell their tickets to visiting fans on the secondary market, Bensel added.
Bensel also noted that the Saints will allow ticketed fans who show up to the Superdome without proof of vaccination or a negative test to gain entry to games if they receive a free vaccination being offered at the dome with help from Ochsner Health System, one of the club’s chief sponsors.
Fans age 12 and under will not have to provide proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter.
The club also has said that Superdome COVID-19 protocols could be eased during the season if the rates of infections drop. Recently, however, they have spiked.
Louisiana had the nation’s highest rate of new coronavirus infections over the past week per capita, and its hospitals are breaking records daily for the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19. The state health department reported 3,022 COVID-19 patients in the hospital Wednesday, 91% of them not fully vaccinated.
“We are hopeful that the city mandate is temporary and we remain optimistic that as vaccination rates increase, this policy will no longer be necessary,” Bensel said.
___
Associated Press Writer Melinda Deslatte contributed from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
___
More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL | www.wavy.com | Saints alter season ticket refund policy amid scrutiny | https://www.wavy.com/sports/saints-alter-season-ticket-refund-policy-amid-scrutiny/ |
||||||
[
"Edith M. Lederer",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:52:03+00:00 | 2021-08-19 19:50:14 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fun-women-hopes-40-billion-will-accelerate-gender-equality%2F.json | en | UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The outgoing head of the U.N. women’s agency is hoping that in five years the $40 billion recently pledged to promote gender equality will lead to many more women in leadership positions, a reduction of violence against women, and the more than 40 million women who fell into extreme poverty because of the COVID-19 pandemic — and more — escape the poverty trap.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said in an interview before stepping down this week as executive director of UN Women after eight years that the pledges by world leaders, the private sector, philanthropists, and organizations at the Generation Equality Forum in Paris that ended July 2 represent a historic and positive shift to broad-based investment in a wide range of women’s issues.
She said one of the major challenges she faced was “not having adequate resources equal to the size of the problem,” and realizing that governments alone could not solve the problem. So bringing together a much broader representation of society, those “who can put money on the table,” and getting them to invest in gender equality was significant progress, she said.
At the Paris forum, UN Women said governments and public sector institutions made $21 billion in commitments to gender equality programs, the private sector made $13 billion, philanthropies $4.5 billion, and organizations $1.3 billion. In addition, 440 civil society organizations and 94 youth-led organizations made policy and program commitments, the U.N. agency said.
Mlambo-Ngcuka stressed that the money doesn’t go to UN Women.
“It goes to the women and girls of the world, but it goes to the issues that we have pointed out to governments and other stakeholders as the critical issues that are impacting on women,” she said.
All the governments, companies, organizations and others who pledged money have to now work themselves and implement the women’s agenda, wherever they are.
Mlambo-Ngcuka said the three issues that got the most money were combating gender-based violence, promoting women’s leadership and supporting the feminist movement. Ensuring women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights got support though “not as much as we wanted,” she said, and funders also gave money to grassroots organizations.
But she said much more funding is needed to tackle the impact of climate change on women, which the U.N. agency will be calling for at the November climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland.
In addition, Mlambo-Ngcuka said, groups of countries got together and put money on the table to advance new issues including unpaid care and how to reduce and redistribute the burden, promoting “gender responsive policing” not only to focus on bringing perpetrators to justice but to prevent crimes from happening, and promoting women’s access to digital finance including enabling them to be procurement suppliers to governments which she will be working on when she returns to her home in South Africa.
“We still have more work to do, but the fact that we now have this coalition of stakeholders, who are working outside the U.N.” is extremely important, Mlambo-Ngcuka said.
She said there will be monitoring of what’s being done annually at the U.N. General Assembly and at the Commission on the Status of Women, the U.N. organ promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Looking back at her eight years at UN Women, Mlambo-Ngcuka said there have been difficult, exciting and challenging times.
In addition to constantly having to do fundraising, she said “we have also had pushback against the women’s agenda” including under former U.S. President Donald Trump and other conservative governments in Poland and elsewhere “which destabilized rights.” She also pointed to “difficult situations” in countries like Congo which remain unstable.
On the positive side, she said working with Gambia to remove discriminatory laws against women was “a joy,” helping Lebanon remove its “marry your rapist law” was also “a big win,” as is seeing women in their thousands participating in local governments in India.
Mlambo-Ngcuka said she has been heartened and encouraged by the rise of girls and youth who are standing up on climate issues, fighting for girls’ education and fighting to end child marriage in Kenya and elsewhere.
All of this “is going to enable us to accelerate the agenda,” she said in Tuesday’s interview.
In five years, she hopes to see the global average of 25% women’s representation in many forums rise toward gender parity which is 50%, to see much greater implementation of laws on violence against women, and to significantly reduce extreme poverty which hit women under age 30 hardest during the pandemic.
“I’m happier as I leave about how far we have come,” she said, but it’s also a difficult time because the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, “lies and disinformation” abound, and “the vaccination situation is so messed up that we’ve got countries that have not even reached 1% of vaccinated people.”
What would she like her legacy to be?
“I just hope that we have changed the debate,” Mlambo-Ngcuka said. “This is not a struggle for women by women. This is a struggle for everybody.” | www.wavy.com | UN Women hopes $40 billion will accelerate gender equality | https://www.wavy.com/news/world/un-women-hopes-40-billion-will-accelerate-gender-equality/ |
||||||
[
"Ryan Dempsey",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:53:50+00:00 | 2021-08-19 10:24:10 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Fhome-br%2Fdecor-br%2Fdorm-room-ideas-for-guys%2F.json | en | Every dormitory has its own personality and culture. You want to do your homework ahead of time to make sure you find a dorm that’s the right fit for you.
Boys’ dorm room ideas
Whether you’re moving out of the house for the first year of college or returning for a senior year on campus, setting up the dorm room is something that requires planning ahead so you aren’t left scrambling when school starts.
Dorm room ideas for guys checklist
Dorm-room furniture
Every dorm room comes with a desk, but it might be in your best interest to upgrade and bring your own more versatile desk that better suits your needs.
You might be there to study, but you will inevitably want a television for downtime. And given all of your electronics, you can never have enough power strips, so why not splurge and get a power strip tower.
Organization
Moving in and out of your college dorm will be hectic, so get your supplies ahead of time. They tend to sell out when you need them most, so make sure you stock up on moving bags.
College supplies
Being out on your own for the first time can be fun and exciting, but don’t forget why you’re there. They always seem to find a way to disappear throughout the year, but you will always need notebooks and pens.
A quality backpack that can hold your laptop is another worthwhile purchase.
While you’re at it, getting a new laptop wouldn’t hurt either. If you want more ideas, check out this laptop buying guide.
The best dorm-room storage
Rhino Trunk and Case Large Rhino Armor Trunk with Removable Wheels
This multipurpose trunk is perfect for your dorm room because it allows you to transport your items, lock up personal belongings, and make an excellent coffee table. It’s extra strong and durable and a very stylish statement piece for a dorm room.
Where to buy: Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond
Simply Essential 9-Cube Organizer
You can use this stackable organizer in many ways to fit a dorm room and hold all the essential items that a college student needs. Made with an anti-tip kit to secure it to the wall for safety, the easy-to-clean particleboard makes this perfect for any guy’s dorm room.
Where to buy: Bed Bath & Beyond
Squared Away Arrow Weave Bedside Caddy in Grey
Keep every gadget within arm’s reach using this bedside caddy. The internal storage pouches can fit books, notebooks, electronics and more, while the built-in patch will allow him to store a power strip to keep all of the electronics charged.
Where to buy: Bed Bath & Beyond
Shower Caddy Bag Organizer
Make sure you have everything you need when heading to the communal bathroom with this shower caddy organizer. It’s made from top-quality mesh and has a durable handle so that it can last all 4 years of school. It’s quick to dry and completely rust-proof, so you won’t have to worry about any lingering smells.
Where to buy: Amazon
The best dorm-room cleaning kit
Keep It Clean
When you don’t have a lot of money, the last thing you want to buy are cleaning products, so you might as well get all of the must-haves in one shot. This cleaning kit comes with an all-purpose cleaning solution, dust cloth, brushes, and sponges.
Where to buy: Bed Bath & Beyond
Dyson V8 Motorhead Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
An easy-to-use lightweight vacuum created for everyday use is just what every college kid needs. This vacuum is perfect for any dorm room as it can deep clean hardwood and carpet while easily converting to a handheld vacuum for difficult-to-reach crevices and even the car.
Where to buy: Amazon
The best dorm-room bedding
Therapedic Comfort 2-Inch Memory Foam Twin XL Mattress Topper
Sleep is wildly crucial for a busy college student, and this comfort mattress topper that adjusts to the body can help ensure a good night’s sleep. The Active Air Technology will help wick away moisture and make for a cool night.
Where to buy: Bed Bath & Beyond
Keeco Garment Washed Solid 2-Piece Twin/Twin XL Duvet Cover Set
Make your dorm room a comfortable and relaxing space to unwind after a long day studying, with a 180-thread-count duvet cover and pillow sham set. This machine-washable set is easy to launder, ultra-soft and adds a simple and modern aesthetic to the dorm room.
Where to buy: Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond
Simply Essential Heathered Cotton Jersey Twin XL Sheet Set
There’s nothing better than cuddling up in your favorite t-shirt, so why not spend every night wrapped up in one. This soft jersey cotton fitted sheet will perfectly fit the twin-size mattresses in the dorm room. It also comes with a flat sheet and a standard-size pillow sham.
Where to buy: Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond
The best dorm-room essentials
IIQ Desk Lamps for Home Office
This minimalist, modern and low-energy-consumption LED light will remind you to plug in or charge all of your tech accessories every time you turn it on. This lamp can charge multiple devices simultaneously and includes a USB charger and a type-c charger with fast-charging capabilities for any Qi-enabled phone.
Where to buy: Amazon
DormDoc 125 Piece Emergency First Aid Kit for College Students
If you’re a bit accident-prone, this 125-piece first aid kit allows you to head off to college prepared with the same TLC you get at home. This kit includes six over-the-counter medications, bandages and color-coordinated creams, making them easy to use and dispense.
Where to buy: Amazon
Danby DAR044A6MDB-6 4.4 Cu.Ft. Mini Fridge
College guys are always hungry, and this mini fridge will allow you to remain fully stocked with all of your favorite snacks and drinks. An energy star rating helps keep the cost down, while the retro design makes this item the coolest-looking fridge in the dorms.
Where to buy: Amazon
nuLOOM Aisha Buffalo Plaid Gray 5 ft. x 8 ft. Area Rug
This stylish natural rug can handle heavy-duty traffic areas, such as a guy’s dorm room. This versatile rug is ideal to spice up a minimalistic room while protecting the floor from any potential damage you may accidentally cause.
Where to buy: Amazon and Home Depot
Vornado 5350 Compact Whole Room Air Circulator Table Fan in Black
Keep the dorm room cool with a portable and tiltable three-speed fan that moves air up to 75 feet. This fan ranges from light and quiet to powerful while creating circulation throughout the whole room, so you and your roommates can stay cool when the room gets stuffy.
Where to buy: Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Ryan Dempsey writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | www.wavy.com | Dorm room ideas for guys | https://www.wavy.com/reviews/br/home-br/decor-br/dorm-room-ideas-for-guys/ |
||||||
[
"Robert Burns",
"Ellen Knickmeyer",
"Zeke Miller",
"Associated Press",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:48:34+00:00 | 2021-08-19 04:13:19 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fbiden-troops-will-stay-in-afghanistan-to-evacuate-americans%2F.json | en | President Joe Biden speaks from the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Aug 18, 2021, on the COVID-19 response and vaccination program. U.S. health officials Wednesday announced plans to offer COVID-19 booster shots to all Americans to shore up their protection amid the surging delta variant and signs that the vaccines’ effectiveness is falling. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says even with the Taliban in power in Afghanistan, he sees a greater threat from outposts of al-Qaida and its affiliated groups in other countries, and that it was no longer “rational” to continue to focus U.S. military power there.
“We should be focusing on where the threat is the greatest,” Biden said in an interview that aired on ABC’s “Good Morning America” Thursday.
“And the idea we can continue to spend a trillion dollars, and have tens of thousands of American forces in Afghanistan, when we have North Africa and Western Africa — the idea we can do that and ignore those looming problems, growing problems, is not rational.”
Biden has said repeatedly that America will not send significantly more forces to fight in Afghanistan. The U.S. has not had tens of thousands there for several years and had 2,500 to 3,000 deployed there when Biden took office.
Biden named Syria and East Africa as places where the Islamic State group poses a “significantly greater threat” than in Afghanistan and said that ISIS has “metastasized.” He said while the U.S. doesn’t have a sizable military presence in a place like Syria, it does have an “over the horizon capability to take them out.”
The comments come as the Biden administration has faced sharp criticism for the timing and direction of the Afghanistan withdrawal, after the Taliban came to power more quickly than administration officials predicted. The swift takeover by the Taliban prompted scenes of chaos and violence as thousands of Afghans and Americans sought to flee the country.
Biden also pushed back against concerns about the treatment of women and girls in the country, arguing that it’s “not rational” to try to protect women’s rights around the globe through military force. Instead, it should be done through “diplomatic and international pressure” on human rights abusers to change their behavior.
Up to 15,000 Americans remain in Afghanistan after the Taliban took full control of the nation last weekend. Biden said during the same interview that he’s committed to keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan until every American is evacuated, even if that means maintaining a military presence beyond his Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawal.
Pressed repeatedly on how the administration would help Americans left in the nation after Aug. 31, Biden said, “If there’s American citizens left, we’re gonna stay till we get them all out.”
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said earlier Wednesday that the U.S. military does not have the forces and firepower in Afghanistan to expand its current mission from securing the Kabul airport to collecting Americans and at-risk Afghans elsewhere in the capital and escorting them for evacuation.
The question of whether those seeking to leave the country before Biden’s deadline should be rescued and brought to the airport has arisen amid reports that Taliban checkpoints have stopped some designated evacuees.
“I don’t have the capability to go out and extend operations currently into Kabul,” Austin said. “And where do you take that? How far do you extend into Kabul, and how long does it take to flow those forces in to be able to do that?”
Austin, a retired four-star Army general who commanded forces in Afghanistan, spoke at his first Pentagon news conference since the Taliban swept to power in Kabul on Sunday.
He said the State Department was sending more consular affairs officers to speed up the processing of evacuees.
“We’re not close to where we want to be” in terms of the pace of the airlift, Austin said.
He said he was mainly focused on the airport, which faced “a number of threats” that must be monitored.
“We cannot afford to either not defend that airfield or not have an airfield that’s secure, where we have hundreds or thousands of civilians that can access the airfield,” he said, adding that talks with the Taliban were continuing to ensure safe passage for those evacuating.
Austin said there were about 4,500 U.S. troops at the airport, maintaining security to enable the State Department-run evacuation operation that has been marked by degrees of chaos and confusion.
Biden, however, told ABC that there wasn’t anything his administration could have done to avoid such chaos.
“The idea that somehow, there’s a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I don’t know how that happens,” he said.
Senior U.S. military officers were talking to Taliban commanders in Kabul about checkpoints and curfews that have limited the number of Americans and Afghans able to enter the airport.
John Kirby, the chief Pentagon spokesman, said that over 24 hours about 2,000 people, including 325 American citizens, had left aboard 18 flights by U.S. Air Force C-17 transport planes. The number of departing Air Force flights was likely to be similar in the coming 24 hours, Kirby said, although he said he could not estimate how many people they would carry.
Nearly 6,000 people had been evacuated by the U.S. military since Saturday, a White House official said Wednesday night.
Kriby said the administration was considering its options for dealing with a separate but related problem — the abandonment by Afghan security forces of an array of military equipment, weapons and aircraft that have fallen into the hands of the Taliban or other militant groups.
“We don’t, obviously, want to see our equipment in the hands of those who would act against our interests or the interests of the Afghan people and increase violence and insecurity inside Afghanistan,” Kirby said. “There are numerous policy choices that can be made, up to and including destruction.” He said those decisions had not yet been made.
Kirby said several hundred more U.S. troops were expected to arrive at the airport by Thursday.
An Air Force unit arrived overnight that specializes in rapidly setting up and maintaining airfield operations, Kirby said. And he said Marines trained in evacuation support have continued to arrive and will assist in getting civilians onto flights.
The top congressional Republicans, Rep. Kevin McCarthy and Sen. Mitch McConnell, asked Biden on Wednesday for a classified briefing with the “gang of eight” — the top Democrats and Republicans on the House and Senate intelligence committees as well as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, McCarthy and McConnell.
McCarthy and McConnell said they want a briefing on the number of Americans still in Afghanistan and the plans to evacuate those outside of Kabul. Their letter prompted Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill to tweet that she had already requested such a meeting. He also said House members will receive an unclassified telephone briefing Friday and an in-person briefing Tuesday.
___
Associated Press writers Lolita C. Baldor, Darlene Superville, Matthew Lee, Eric Tucker, Alexandra Jaffe and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington and Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin contributed to this report. | www.wavy.com | Biden: Greater threats than Taliban-controlled Afghanistan | https://www.wavy.com/news/politics/biden-troops-will-stay-in-afghanistan-to-evacuate-americans/ |
||||||
[
"Mead Gruver",
"Associated Press",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:47:11+00:00 | 2021-08-19 20:39:37 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fbusiness%2Fpatagonia-boycotts-wyoming-ski-resort-over-owners-gop-event%2F.json | en | In this Aug. 5, 2021, photo Nikki Kaufman takes a photo of a fellow demonstrator while protesting Jackson Hole Mountain Resort owner Jay Kemmerer’s decision to co-host a fundraiser for the House Freedom Fund near Jackson, Wyo. Kaufman and others have called on others to think critically about their ski pass purchases. The outdoor gear and clothing company Patagonia has stopped providing its merchandise for sale at a Wyoming ski resort to protest the owners’ sponsorship of a Republican fundraiser featuring Marjorie Taylor Greene and other core supporters of former President Donald Trump. (Meg Potter/Jackson Hole News & Guide via AP)
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The outdoor gear and clothing company Patagonia has stopped providing its merchandise for sale at a Wyoming ski resort to protest the owners’ sponsorship of a Republican fundraiser featuring Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and other top supporters of former President Donald Trump.
Well known for decades for its outspoken support of progressive causes and environmentalism, Patagonia in the past has brought unwanted attention to Facebook and Instagram and the Outdoor Retailer shows in Salt Lake City.
Now, the company’s activism could spell trouble — among left-leaning skiers at least — for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. A major tourism destination in Wyoming, the resort known for its bright red gondola car and logo with a silhouetted bucking horse and rider is among the best-known brands from one of the most Republican states.
“We join with the local community that is using its voice in protest. We will continue to use our business to advocate for stronger policies to protect our planet, end hate speech and support voting rights and a strong democracy,” Patagonia spokeswoman Corley Kenna said in a statement Wednesday.
The boycott, first reported by WyoFile, means Patagonia merchandise won’t be available in three shops at the resort which Kenna said were Patagonia’s largest account in Jackson Hole.
Resort owners Jay and Karen Kemmerer cosponsored the Aug. 5 GOP fundraiser in Jackson Hole featuring Greene, a Georgia congresswoman suspended from Twitter over allegedly spreading misinformation about COVID-19. Greene called the suspension a “Communist-style” attack.
Also there were Rep. Jim Jordan, of Ohio, and Mark Meadows, Trump’s former White House chief of staff. Admission started at $2,000 per couple.
The event drew a small group of curbside protesters, some with signs that read “Hey JHMR, your Greene washing is showing” and “JHMR passes fund treason?”
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has been a ski industry leader in recycling and reducing energy use and will continue to offer “world-class brands” in its stores, President Mary Kate Buckley said in a statement Thursday.
“We are proud to be the largest mountain resort operating on 100% wind today. We will remain focused on operating a world-class mountain resort and protecting the health and safety of our guests and employees,” Buckley said.
Ventura, California-based Patagonia would reconsider its boycott if the resort owners demonstrated “a commitment to a healthy planet and healthy communities,” Kenna said Thursday.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is in Teton County, one of just two Wyoming counties that preferred Joe Biden over Trump in the 2020 election. Biden won Teton County with 67% of the vote; Trump won the state with 70%.
Teton County also is home to Republican Rep. Liz Cheney and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney. Trump has vowed to help defeat Liz Cheney in 2022 for voting to impeach him for his role in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot. | www.wavy.com | Patagonia boycotts Wyoming ski resort over owners’ GOP event | https://www.wavy.com/news/business/patagonia-boycotts-wyoming-ski-resort-over-owners-gop-event/ |
||||||
[
"Yuri Kageyama",
"Associated Press",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:46:09+00:00 | 2021-08-20 00:40:10 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fentertainment-news%2Fjapanese-martial-artist-film-star-sonny-chiba-dies-at-82%2F.json | en | FILE – In this Sept. 29, 2003, file photo, Japanese actor Sonny Chiba arrives for the premiere of the film “Kill Bill: Volume 1” at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. Chiba, known in Japan as Shinichi Chiba, who wowed the world with his martial arts skills, acting in more than 100 films, including “Kill Bill,” has died late Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. He was 82. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese actor Sonny Chiba, who wowed the world with his martial arts skills in more than 100 films, including “Kill Bill,” has died. He was 82.
Chiba, known in Japan as Shinichi Chiba, died late Thursday in a hospital near Tokyo where he had been treated for COVID-19 since Aug. 8, Tokyo-based Astraia, his management office, said in a statement Friday. It said he had not been vaccinated.
Chiba rose to stardom in Japan in the 1960s, portraying samurai, fighters and police detectives, the anguished so-called “anti-heroes” trying to survive in a violent world. He did many of the stunt scenes himself.
His overseas career took off after his 1970s Japanese film “The Street Fighter” proved popular in the U.S.
American director Quentin Tarantino listed the work as among his “grindhouse,” or low-budget kitsch cinema, favorites.
Tarantino cast Chiba in the role of Hattori Hanzo, a master swordsmith in “Kill Bill.”
Chiba appeared in the 1991 Hollywood film “Aces,” directed by John Glen, as well as in Hong Kong movies.
Chiba’s career also got a boost from the global boom in kung fu films, set off by Chinese legend Bruce Lee, although critics say Chiba tended to exhibit a dirtier, thug-like fighting style than Lee.
“A true action legend. Your films are eternal and your energy an inspiration. #SonnyChiba #RIP,” American actor Lewis Tan said on Twitter.
New York-based writer and director Ted Geoghegan called him “the great Sonny Chiba.”
“Watch one of his films today,” Geoghegan tweeted, followed by images of a fist and a broken heart.
Other fans mournfully filled Twitter threads with clips of his movies and photos.
Born in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, Chiba studied at Nippon Sport Science University trained in various martials arts, earning a fourth-degree black belt in karate.
Chiba set up Japan Action Club in 1980, to develop a younger generation of actors, including protege Hiroyuki Sanada, who is among Hollywood’s most coveted Japanese actors, landing roles in “The Last Samurai” and “Rush Hour 3.”
Chiba is survived by his three children, Juri Manase, Mackenyu Arata and Gordon Maeda, all actors. A wake was canceled as a pandemic measure, and funeral arrangements were still undecided, his office said.
___
Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama | www.wavy.com | Japanese martial artist film star Sonny Chiba dies at 82 | https://www.wavy.com/entertainment-news/japanese-martial-artist-film-star-sonny-chiba-dies-at-82/ |
||||||
[
"Frank Paiva",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:53:43+00:00 | 2021-08-19 12:58:20 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Fhome-br%2Fcleaning-tools-supplies-br%2Fbest-robot-mop%2F.json | en | It’s important to babysit your robot mop the first few times you use it. There may be a cord behind your desk you’ve forgotten about, or the mop may not be able to make it across your thick throw rug — don’t just set it and forget it.
Which robot mop is best?
The self-cleaning house of the future is one step closer, thanks to the robot mop. Robot mops make one of the most tedious and thankless household chores a breeze. Robot vacuum mops are all about making your life easier and your floors cleaner.
It’s important to pick the right robot mop for your needs. Top pick Samsung Jetbot Mop runs for 100 minutes and covers up to 2,000 feet on a full battery. Whether you’re cleaning a big house or a small apartment, here’s what you should consider.
What to know before you buy a robot mop
Size
The average robot mop is 12 inches wide, 4 inches high and weighs about 6 pounds. The size of your robot mop is important because it determines how easily your device can travel under furniture. It’s especially worth measuring the amount of space between the floor and the bottom of your couch — you don’t want a robot mop that’s not going to fit under it.
The weight of your robot mop is important if you’ll be carrying it across multiple floors on a regular basis. Remember that it will also weigh more with a full water tank.
Additional functions
Some robot mops can only mop, while others are multifunctional and can mop and vacuum. If you already own a robot vacuum, there’s no need to buy a multifunctional robot mop.
Most multifunctional robot mops require the user to manually switch between mopping and vacuuming. This can be a bit of a pain; there’s generally no easy automatic way to change modes. You’ll usually have to swap out a water canister for a dust canister on the top of the unit or add/remove a mopping pad from the bottom of the unit.
Battery life
Opt for a robot mop that can run for at least an hour. Luckily, 60 minutes of battery life is standard on most mid-range and high-end models. Cheaper models may be tempting, but they’ll require more recharging.
Consider a robot mop that can find its way back to its charging station when its battery is getting low. This is a common feature and can save you from having to find the mop and take it back after every use.
What to look for in a quality robot mop
Remote control
Most robot mops come with a remote control. If your robot mop gets stuck underneath the sofa, this remote will be the only easy way to get it out. Some mops have a single on-off button on the unit itself, while others have many buttons representing many cleaning options. Look at different models to get a feel for what you prefer.
A handful of pricier robot mops connect to Wi-Fi and have an associated smartphone app. This can be a particularly useful tool if you plan to use your robot mop when you’re out of the house but still want to keep an eye on how everything’s going.
Sensors
Most robot mops have two basic safety features: front bumpers to detect obstacles and drop-off sensors to stop the mop from falling down stairs. If you have stairs in your home, this is a key feature to look for.
The latest cutting-edge robot mops use 3D technology to create a map of your home for better navigation and easier cleaning. They can also be programmed to avoid certain rooms or areas. These robot mops may be a better choice for larger houses with lots of stuff.
Water tank
Some robot mops require you to manually wet the mopping pad on the bottom of the unit, while others have a water tank that you load into the top. This tank may not be large enough for a full charge of the battery, so be sure to look at runtime in the instruction manual.
Some water tanks slowly drip water onto the mopping pad from inside the unit. Others have a spray nozzle that wets the area in front of the mop.
How much you can expect to spend on a robot mop
High-quality mop-only models range from $200-$350. Basic multifunctional models can also be found at this price. Multifunctional models with better navigation, more features and newer technology are typically $400-$500.
Robot mop FAQ
How noisy are robot mops?
A. This varies by model and manufacturer, with some being whisper-quiet. See if you can find online reviews with user videos to get a better sense.
Do robot mops require lots of maintenance?
A. No more than any other cleaning tool. Mop pads should be washed and replaced when dirty. Vacuum filters should be cleaned regularly. It’s also a good idea to wipe the sensors with a damp cloth every once in a while to prevent your mop from bumping into things.
What’s the best robot mop to buy?
Top robot mop
Samsung Jetbot Mop
What you need to know: Has excellent battery power and cleaning power, and is perfect for jobs both big and small.
What you’ll love: Optimized for hardwood and tile, but comes with eight cleaning modes. Great at removing dust and hair.
What you should consider: Doesn’t scrub very deep; stubborn stains require manual cleaning.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Wayfair
Top robot mop for the money
ILIFE V5s Pro 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop
What you need to know: A bargain multifunctional model that doesn’t sacrifice on quality.
What you’ll love: Powerful, with good user reviews. Sleek gold finish makes it look good too.
What you should consider: Short battery life.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
iRobot Braava Jet M6 Ultimate Robot Mop
What you need to know: Thoroughly deep-cleans multiple rooms and large areas.
What you’ll love: Connects to a smartphone, Amazon Alexa or Google Home for simple control. Recharges by itself.
What you should consider: Some users report that the mop doesn’t work very well if the room is dark.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Frank Paiva writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | www.wavy.com | Best robot mop | https://www.wavy.com/reviews/br/home-br/cleaning-tools-supplies-br/best-robot-mop/ |
||||||
[
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:50:56+00:00 | 2021-08-19 07:38:00 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fgreek-wildfire-burns-through-pine-forest-for-4th-day%2F.json | en | An aircraft and helicopters operate during a wildfire in Vilia area some 60 kilometers (37 miles) northwest of Athens, Greece, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. A major wildfire northwest of the Greek capital devoured large tracts of pine forest for a third day and threatened a large village as hundreds of firefighters, assisted by water-dropping planes and helicopters, battled the flames Wednesday. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Hundreds of Greek and Polish firefighters were battling a major wildfire decimating a pine forest for a fourth day Thursday northwest of the Greek capital.
The fire near the village of Vilia, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Athens, has already burned through thousands of hectares and led to evacuation orders being issued for several villages in the area. Strong winds forecast for later in the day could complicate firefighting efforts.
The fire department said 427 firefighters, including 143 from Poland, along with 149 vehicles were battling the flames. Five water-dropping planes and five helicopters were providing air support, while the army sent manpower and machinery.
The Vilia blaze is the latest of hundreds of wildfires that have burnt across Greece this month, fueled by a heat wave — the country’s most severe in about three decades — that parched shrubland and forests.
The blazes have stretched the country’s firefighting capabilities to the limit, leading the government to appeal for international help, including through a European Union emergency response system. About 24 European and Middle Eastern countries responded, sending planes, helicopters, vehicles and hundreds of firefighters. Most have since returned home.
The causes of the fires have not been officially established, although more than a dozen people have been arrested on suspicion of arson.
Intense heat and wildfires have also struck other Mediterranean countries. Firefighters in France worked to contain a forest fire along the French Riviera on Tuesday, and recent wildfires have killed at least 75 people in Algeria and 16 in Turkey. Worsening drought and heat have also fueled wildfires in the western United States and in Russia’s northern Siberia region. | www.wavy.com | Greek wildfire burns through pine forest for 4th day | https://www.wavy.com/news/world/greek-wildfire-burns-through-pine-forest-for-4th-day/ |
||||||
[
"Kristin M. Hall",
"Associated Press",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:45:29+00:00 | 2021-08-19 17:43:56 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fentertainment-news%2Famazon-to-stream-academy-of-country-music-awards-in-2022%2F.json | en | FILE – This April 7, 2019 file photo shows host Reba McEntire on stage at the 54th annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas. The Academy of Country Music Awards is making the streaming switch to Amazon Prime Video, the first time the streaming service has exclusively aired an awards show. An air date and location will be announced later. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Academy of Country Music Awards is making the streaming switch, moving from a TV network to Amazon Prime Video and marking the first time the streaming service will exclusively air an awards show.
In the announcement on Thursday, the ACMs move from CBS, which previously announced that it would be airing the Country Music Television awards show next year. A date and location will be announced later, but the show has been traditionally held in Las Vegas, although the pandemic moved the show’s production to Nashville, Tennessee.
The West Coast-based Academy of Country Music has held an awards show since 1966. Meanwhile, Amazon has gotten more into live TV programming with the announcement of their deal to air NFL’s “Thursday Night Football.”
“We’re excited to continue to expand our content offerings for Prime Video customers by being the exclusive home for the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2022 and honoring the best in country music,” said Vernon Sanders, co-head of television at Amazon Studios, in a statement.
“This partnership, which reinforces our position as an innovative, progressive awards show, will deliver the broadest possible audience and, simultaneously, deliver massive value to our artists whose music lives inside this ecosystem, enabling fans to discover and stream music as they watch,” Damon Whiteside, CEO of the ACM, said in a statement. | www.wavy.com | Amazon to stream Academy of Country Music Awards in 2022 | https://www.wavy.com/entertainment-news/amazon-to-stream-academy-of-country-music-awards-in-2022/ |
||||||
[
"Frances D'Emilio",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:51:09+00:00 | 2021-08-19 15:15:31 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fitalian-alleged-mobster-linked-to-van-goghs-is-held-in-dubai%2F.json | en | FILE – In this Tuesday, April 16, 2019 file photo museum director Axel Ruger, right, talks during a presentation of two restored paintings, that were stolen and went missing for 14 years before being recovered in Italy in 2016, by Dutch master Vincent van Gogh, View of the Sea at Scheveningen (1882), left, and Congeregation Leaving the Reformed Church in Nuenen (1884-1885), at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The alleged top drug trafficker suspected of having bought two stolen Van Gogh paintings on the black market and one of Italy’s most wanted men, Raffaele Imperiale, has been arrested in Dubai, Naples-based police said Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, file)
ROME (AP) — One of Italy’s most wanted men, an alleged major cocaine trafficker who investigators say bought two stolen Van Gogh paintings on the black market with drug money, has been arrested in Dubai, Naples-based police said Thursday.
Raffaele Imperiale, an alleged kingpin in the Naples-based Camorra organized crime syndicate, was arrested on Aug. 4, Italy’s state police and financial crimes police corps said in a joint statement.
Imperiale, 46, was being held in the United Arab Emirates while Italy’s justice ministry completes extradition procedures.
Italian authorities had been seeking him since January 2016 for alleged money laundering and international drug trafficking as part of organized crime activity, according to the Italian Interior Ministry. He was considered one of Italy’s most dangerous fugitives.
“He was able to construct an imposing network of international drug trafficking, in particular in cocaine,” the police said. According to Italian investigators, Imperiale started as an ”international broker” in the drug trade in the early 2000s, with his ties to powerful Camorra clans surviving various feuds among Naples mobsters.
Imperiale is “a top exponent of international drug trafficking and money laundering, who accumulated huge amounts of illicit wealth thanks above all to cocaine sales,” said Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese.
In 2016, two Van Gogh paintings stolen in 2002 from an Amsterdam museum were found stashed in a non-descript farmhouse on property owned by Imperiale in the Naples-area town of his birth, Castellamare di Stabia.
“The wealth illicitly accumulated allowed him to buy on the black market two Van Gogh paintings of unquantifiable value,” police said. They referred to the 1882 “View of the Sea at Scheveningen” and a 1884-1885 work, “Congregation leaving the Reformed Church in Nuenen,” which had been stolen from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
Italian financial police found the paintings wrapped in cotton sheets, stuffed into a box and hidden behind a wall in a bathroom. The artworks were discovered as part of a seizure of property from Imperiale and another reputed Camorra drug kingpin.
Police noted that Imperiale gave an interview this year to Naples daily newspaper Il Mattino in which he denied any link to the museum theft and claimed he bought the paintings because he is a passionate lover of art.
“I bought them directly from the thief, because the price was attractive,. But most of all because I love art,” Imperiale was quoted as telling the newspaper. He made no secret of having lived in Dubai for several years.
Investing in art, real estate and legitimate businesses like hotels, restaurants and pharmacies is increasingly common among Italian mobsters awash in drug trafficking proceeds, according to Italian investigators.
Shortly before the Van Gogh paintings were discovered, Italy’s financial police seized some 40 houses in Spain that they alleged Imperiale had gotten with illicitly acquired revenue.
Italian anti-Mafia investigators have following Imperiale’s activities for years. The arrest of a close Imperiale associate who supervised the importation of cocaine from Venezuela led to the 2013 seizure of 1,330 kilos (roughly 1.5 tons) of the drug in Paris, according to Italian police.
Italian news reports said Imperiale lived for about 10 years in Amsterdam while allegedly directing drug shipments to Italy and then moved to Madrid and eventually Dubai.
Dutch daily newspapers De Telegraaf reported that he took over one of Amsterdam’s marijuana-selling coffeeshops in 1996.
___
Mike Corder in Amsterdam contributed to this report. | www.wavy.com | Italian alleged mobster linked to Van Goghs is held in Dubai | https://www.wavy.com/news/world/italian-alleged-mobster-linked-to-van-goghs-is-held-in-dubai/ |
||||||
[
"Katy Palmer",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:54:04+00:00 | 2021-08-19 12:57:44 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Fkitchen-br%2Fcoffee-accessories-br%2Fbest-travel-coffee-mug%2F.json | en | The best way to help your travel coffee mug retain its temperature for longer is to preheat or pre-cool it while you wait for your coffee to brew.
Which travel coffee mugs are best?
Whether you’re at the office, on a mountaintop or on the road, there are travel coffee mugs designed for all your caffeinated activities.
Travel coffee mugs come in many shapes, sizes and styles. Picking the best travel coffee mug for your needs depends on how and where you plan to use it.
What to know before you buy a travel coffee mug
A few considerations are key to finding your ideal travel coffee mug. The size, shape, lid and handle of your mug depend on your lifestyle and coffee drinking habits. Consider how much, how often and where you’ll be drinking your coffee before buying a new mug.
Size
Generally, travel coffee mugs come in 12-, 16- and 20-ounce sizes. How much coffee you drink determines how big of a travel coffee mug you need to buy. If you take your coffee with creamer, sweetener or other ingredients, make sure your travel mug has enough room for you to add those on top of your usual serving of coffee.
Shape
While most travel coffee mugs will fit in cup holders, not all are designed with cup holders in mind. Some mugs are wider than others, while others are skinny at the base and wider at the top. Consider where you’ll most likely be while drinking your coffee on the go.
Lid
The lid on a travel coffee mug is essential to keeping your liquid from spilling. Lids can have a pop-open, slide-open or screw-off top for drinking. Some may even have a hole to insert a straw. Lids that you can open one-handed are best for commuters or adventurers who may only have one hand free at a time.
Handle
If you’re a coffee drinker who loves the feeling of a classic coffee mug, a handle is a must. Tall mugs with handles may fit well in cup holders if you plan to caffeinate while in the car.
What to look for in a quality travel coffee mug
Once you know the size and shape of your perfect mug, you need to find one that provides an excellent coffee drinking experience. No matter how you take your java, make sure you find a mug that maintains your drink’s temperature, prevents spills and is easy to clean on the go.
Temperature control
Possibly the most important feature of a travel coffee mug is to keep your coffee as hot or cold as you like for as long as you’re drinking it. Travel coffee mugs are built to maintain temperature with specific design features such as vacuum-sealed walls, stainless steel or copper materials and airtight lids. Quality travel mugs will also prevent condensation and burns by keeping the outer mug and handle at room temperature.
Spill-proof
Another key feature of quality travel coffee mugs is their ability to keep liquid from leaking out. Look for leak-proof lids that are airtight, locking or have sturdy rubber gaskets.
Easy to clean
When you’re on the go, cleaning dishes can be a challenge. Travel coffee mugs that are easy to clean have fewer parts to disassemble, no crevices that can trap gunk in hard-to-reach places and wide mouths so you can scrub thoroughly inside and out.
How much you can expect to spend on a travel coffee mug
Travel coffee mugs can range from $15-$50.
Travel coffee mug FAQ
What is a vacuum-insulated mug?
A. In a vacuum-insulated mug, there is more than one wall surrounding the mug. A double- or triple-walled travel mug has multiple linings with an air gap between them. This allows the inner liquid to retain its temperature longer since it’s less exposed to the outside air.
Can I make my travel mug retain temperature longer?
A. Yes. The best way to help your travel mug retain its temperature for longer is to preheat or pre-cool it while you wait for your coffee to brew. Before pouring your coffee in, pour hot water into the mug and let it sit for a minute. Then, pour out the hot water and add your coffee. If you’re making an iced coffee, let ice water sit in the mug for a minute before you empty it to add your drink.
How do I clean my travel mug?
A. Check your product instruction guide to see if the mug is dishwasher-safe. If it’s not, a simple scrub with dish soap and warm water will do the trick. For stainless steel coffee mugs, use a gentle sponge and avoid steel wool and harsh detergents.
What’s the best travel coffee mug to buy?
Best of the best travel coffee mug
Thermos Stainless King 16-ounce Travel Mug with Handle
What you need to know: This is a state-of-the-art travel mug that checks all the boxes.
What you’ll love: The mug is vacuum-insulated for long-term temperature control. A built-in tea hook makes brewing tea on the go even easier. A slim base fits in most cup holders, and a handle makes for easy grip carrying. Materials are BPA-free.
What you should consider: Some customers have said the handle can be awkward to hold.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Kohl’s and Staples
Best bang for your buck travel coffee mug
Finedine Double Wall Stainless Steel Coffee Mug
What you need to know: This is the ideal mug for hardcore coffee drinkers on a budget.
What you’ll love: This sleek design features a stainless steel finish inside and out. The outside of the mug stays cool even if your coffee is piping hot. The lids are spill-resistant. The mug is dishwasher-safe.
What you should consider: While the mug is stainless steel, the lid is made of plastic.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Best leak-proof travel coffee mug
MiiR Insulated Travel Tumbler with Locking Flip Lid
What you need to know: This travel tumbler offers a sleek design with an absolutely leak-proof lid.
What you’ll love: The simple design is appealing, easy to hold and fits in all cup holders. The locking lid seals liquids in and is easy to open one-handed when you’re ready to sip. The vacuum-insulated stainless steel design keeps coffee hot or iced drinks cool for hours. It’s top-rack dishwasher-safe.
What you should consider: Some customers mentioned getting a drop of coffee on their nose from the flip-up lid when they go to drink.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Best durable travel coffee mug
YETI Rambler Stainless Steel Mug
What you need to know: This compact travel coffee mug is a reliable choice for enjoying a cup of coffee while adventuring outdoors.
What you’ll love: These mugs are made with kitchen-grade stainless steel, making them puncture- and rust-resistant. Double-wall vacuum insulation controls the temperature of your drinks while protecting your hands. The wide design and comfortable handle are reminiscent of a typical coffee mug. These mugs are dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. You can choose from over 15 colors.
What you should consider: Some customers said it didn’t keep their coffee as hot as they expected.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Best design travel coffee mug
S’well Stainless Steel Traveler
What you need to know: This travel mug is for the coffee drinker who wants a mug to express their personality.
What you’ll love: Triple-walled insulation ensures your coffee stays hot. This travel thermos is available in over 20 colors and designs. The bottle is sweat-free, leak-proof and fits in all standard-size cup holders. The opening is large enough to fit most ice cubes for iced coffee drinkers.
What you should consider: Some customers report that the lid gets stuck.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Bed Bath & Beyond
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Katy Palmer writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | www.wavy.com | Best travel coffee mug | https://www.wavy.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/coffee-accessories-br/best-travel-coffee-mug/ |
||||||
[
"Nathan Crawford",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Jason Marks"
] | 2021-08-20 01:45:17+00:00 | 2021-08-20 00:21:18 | Christians United for Haiti and MP Island Café are asking the Hampton Roads community to support relief efforts by donating relief items or contribute financially. | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fcommunity%2Fhampton-roads-nonprofit-restaurant-chain-raising-funds-collecting-supplies-for-haiti-disaster-relief%2F.json | en | People gather outside the Petit Pas Hotel, destroyed by the earthquake in Les Cayes, Haiti, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. A 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on Saturday, with the epicenter about 125 kilometers (78 miles) west of the capital of Port-au-Prince, the US Geological Survey said. (AP Photo/Joseph Odelyn)
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Local nonprofit, Christians United for Haiti and restaurant chain, MP Island Café, are partnering together to raise funds and relief supplies for Haiti’s earthquake survivors.
A powerful magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit Haiti on August 14 leaving at least 304 people dead and injuring at least 1,800 others. Now the country is working to rebuild.
Christians United for Haiti and MP Island Café are asking the Hampton Roads community to support relief efforts by donating relief items or contribute financially.
For a full list of items they are looking to receive, click here. Those wishing to donate money can do so via GoFundMe or Zelle. Their goal is to raise $10,000.
Items can be dropped off at MP Island Café at 6109 E. Virginia Beach Blvd, Norfolk or 5583 Portsmouth Blvd, Portsmouth. | www.wavy.com | Hampton Roads nonprofit, restaurant chain raising funds, collecting supplies for Haiti disaster relief | https://www.wavy.com/community/hampton-roads-nonprofit-restaurant-chain-raising-funds-collecting-supplies-for-haiti-disaster-relief/ |
|||||
[
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:46:02+00:00 | 2021-08-19 08:59:03 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fentertainment-news%2Fhong-kong-grants-quarantine-exemption-to-nicole-kidman%2F.json | en | FILE- In this Jan. 15, 2020, file photo, actress Nicole Kidman speaks at the “The Undoing” panel during the HBO TCA 2020 Winter Press Tour at the Langham Huntington in Pasadena, Calif. Hong Kong’s government said in a statement Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, that it had recently granted a quarantine exemption to someone to perform “designated professional work” after reports surfaced that Kidman did not have to serve quarantine when she arrived in the city to film a TV series. (Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP, File)
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong’s government said Thursday that it has granted a quarantine exemption to an individual to perform “designated professional work” following reports that Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman did not have to spend time in quarantine when she arrived in the city to film a TV series.
“The case in discussion has been granted permission to travel to Hong Kong with a quarantine exemption for the purpose of performing designated professional work, taking into account that it is conducive to maintaining the necessary operation and development of Hong Kong’s economy,” the government said in a statement, without identifying Kidman by name.
It said people granted such exemptions must comply with disease prevention measures to minimize transmission risks and contact with the public.
Kidman, who reportedly flew into Hong Kong from virus-hit Sydney, Australia, was spotted out and about in the city this week. She is here to film a new Amazon Prime Video series called Expats.
Her quarantine exemption comes as Hong Kong tightened entry restrictions, requiring those arriving from high-risk countries such as the U.S. to spend 21 days in quarantine and fully vaccinated travelers from medium-risk countries to spend 14 days starting Friday.
The city previously allowed travelers from medium-risk countries to stay just seven days in quarantine at designated hotels if they are fully vaccinated and had a positive antibodies test. | www.wavy.com | Hong Kong grants quarantine exemption to Nicole Kidman | https://www.wavy.com/entertainment-news/hong-kong-grants-quarantine-exemption-to-nicole-kidman/ |
||||||
[
"Gerald Harris",
"Sebastian Posey",
"Nathan Crawford",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Jason Marks"
] | 2021-08-20 01:47:37+00:00 | 2021-08-20 01:32:13 | The U.S. secretary of education, wrote a letter to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn warning that "actions to block school districts from voluntarily adopting science-based strategies" puts the safe reopening of schools at risk. | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fhealth%2Fcoronavirus%2Ftennessee-mask-opt-out-order-may-violate-federal-law-us-secretary-of-education-writes%2F.json | en | NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – The Biden administration is taking aim at states that are blocking mask mandates for school districts.
United States Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona wrote a letter to Governor Bill Lee and Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn Wednesday regarding Tennessee’s decision to allow parents to opt their children out of mask mandates.
Secretary Cardona said the latest action by Tennessee’s governor endangers the safe reopening of schools for in-person learning.
On Monday, Lee signed Executive Order 84 which gives parents the ability to opt their children out of mask mandates enacted by local school or health boards. The decision was made despite a swift rise in COVID-19 pediatric cases.
Now the Department of Education is stepping in, following threats from lawmakers against school districts failing to obey the executive order.
“This is deeply distressing,” Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, Chair of the White House COVID-19 Equity Task Force said. “We know what works to keep our kids safe, we know that our kids should be in school. That’s where they’re going to do best.”
“The safe return to in-person instruction requires that school districts be able to protect the health and safety of students and educators,” Cardona wrote to Governor Lee and Commissioner Schwinn.
“It is really frustrating, disturbing to see politics interfering in this way,” Nunez-Smith said. “President Biden came out and he asked Secretary Cardona to use really every power and every lever to support those leaders of schools and those public health officials who are doing the right thing.”
Secretary Cardona continued to say the executive order puts in-person learning, “At-risk and may infringe upon a school district’s authority to adopt policies to protect students and educators as they develop their safe return to in-person instruction plans required by federal law.”
Rep. John Clemmons (D-Nashville) said the executive order may not stand up in a Tennessee courtroom. “This executive order is suspect on state law grounds as well I don’t believe that the governor has the statutory authority to enter the type of order that he did in Executive Order 84.”
Clemmons said he applauds districts that are ignoring the governor’s order.
“They’re looking out for the health and well-being of their students, that’s their job,” Clemmons said. “The governor’s order was in his self-interest, it was a political decision.”
In a tweet Thursday afternoon, Governor Lee responded to the Department of Education’s letter, writing, “Parents know better than the government what’s best for their children.” | www.wavy.com | Tennessee mask opt-out order may violate federal law, US secretary of education writes | https://www.wavy.com/news/health/coronavirus/tennessee-mask-opt-out-order-may-violate-federal-law-us-secretary-of-education-writes/ |
|||||
[
"Sian Babish",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:54:18+00:00 | 2021-08-19 10:22:31 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Flawn-garden-br%2Ftools-br-lawn-garden-br%2Farts-crafts-br%2Fbest-american-girl-accessories%2F.json | en | Some American Girl accessories, such as the radio-controlled vehicles, require batteries. To save money in the long run, buy a set of compatible rechargeable batteries.
BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.
Which American Girl accessories are best?
Besides having over a dozen active dolls in their current collection, American Girl also manufactures a wide variety of accessories, and they’re not just for dolls.
American Girl’s accessory line includes activity kits, doll furniture, mini toys, and doll carriers. Some accessories are designed after significant elements in the doll’s story. Other accessories feature engaging activities, like jewelry making or t-shirt design. No matter which type of American Girl accessory you choose, rest assured you’re purchasing a well-made item that will withstand the test of time.
If you’re wondering which American Girl accessory you should choose, read our buying guide. We’re sharing an overview of popular categories, plus we’re including a few recommendations at the end. Our favorite, the American Girl Ultimate Crafting Kit, comes with more than 1,000 pieces that create nearly a dozen projects.
Considerations when choosing American Girl accessories
Age range
American Girl has broad appeal, though dolls and accessories are usually intended for ages eight and older. While doll clothes and accessories are designed for this age range, some activity kits with small pieces, like beads or art supplies, can be enjoyed for kids ages eight to 15.
Play
American Girl accessories can be separated into two groups: character-specific or general play. Character-specific play refers to playing with American Girl accessories specific to a doll’s story or world. Some kids prefer this type of play, especially if they take pride in collecting the doll’s entire catalog of accessories.
General play refers to playing with any type of American Girl accessory, no matter which dolls kids have. This means that any clothes or accessories from Kendall’s WellieWishers collection can be enjoyed with other WellieWishers dolls, for example.
Popular categories of American Girl accessories
Outfits
Outfits remain the most popular category of American Girl accessories. Outfits include doll clothes as well as outerwear, boots, socks, and even undergarments. Basic outfit sets just come with clothing pieces, though deluxe sets include a few accessories, like hair bows or sunglasses.
Mini toys
American Girl characters lead active lives that include pastimes, like surfing or drawing. For that reason, there’s quite an extensive category for mini toys, which are diminutive accessories inspired by items from the characters’ stories. These include diaries, play money, pinball machines, or plush pets.
Furniture
Because American Girl dolls measure up to 18 inches tall, they don’t come with dollhouses like smaller dolls. Instead, kids can recreate the character’s world through signature furniture like bunk beds, writing desks, or lockers. Doll vehicles are also grouped into this category.
Activity kits
Unlike other American Girl accessories, activity kits exist outside the characters’ stories. These mostly include arts and crafts kits for scrapbooking, jewelry making, or fashion designing. Most projects feature life-size projects that kids can enjoy, but some kits include mini-projects to create doll accessories.
American Girl accessories price
Entry-level American Girl accessories are priced at $20-$50 and include outfit sets and smaller doll accessories. Deluxe outfit sets and larger accessories, including some furniture pieces, cost $50-$150. Larger accessories, such as elaborate wooden furniture, cost $300 and above.
American Girl accessories FAQ
Q. What’s the best way to store doll clothes and other American Girl accessories?
A. Many American Girl doll enthusiasts recommend investing in a doll carrier, also referred to as a portable wardrobe. Not only do these have room to store the doll, they have drawers and cubbies to stow a wide variety of clothes and accessories.
Q. Is it okay to buy third-party accessories for an American Girl doll?
A. If you’re not concerned with collectability, then yes. In fact, third-party companies manufacture furniture, clothes, and other accessories outside the American Girl universe, which means it’s easy to find new, unique accessories.
American Girl accessories we recommend
Best of the best
American Girl Ultimate Crafting Kit
Our take: A well-rounded craft kit that makes jewelry and other tiny treasures for you and your doll.
What we like: Comes with 1,000 pieces and tools including string, beads, crochet needle, and a design guide. Instructions are very user-friendly. Easily makes a dozen creations.
What we dislike: Some projects are involved, so it’s better suited for ages eight and above.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Best bang for your buck
American Girl Crafts Mini Memory Book Scrapbooking Kit
Our take: Budding scrapbookers will appreciate this 266-piece set with plenty of colorful accessories.
What we like: Includes essential scrapbooking pieces like paper, sticker sheets, and adhesive embellishments. Can be used to make a mini memory book or to decorate an existing scrapbook or photo collage.
What we dislike: Scrapbook is doll-sized, so assembly requires some patience.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
American Girl WellieWishers Stargazing Sleeping Bag
Our take: An essential accessory for stargazing in the garden or camping with the doll.
What we like: Well-made sleeping bag with graphic light strings on the cover. Is perfect for a 14.5-inch doll. Cozy for kids to play with.
What we dislike: Fairly expensive.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Sian Babish writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | www.wavy.com | Best American Girl accessories | https://www.wavy.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/tools-br-lawn-garden-br/arts-crafts-br/best-american-girl-accessories/ |
||||||
[
"Sian Babish",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:52:36+00:00 | 2021-08-19 17:29:32 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Fbed-bath-br%2Fmattresses-pillows-br%2Fbest-twin-xl-mattress%2F.json | en | While you can lay down to test some mattresses in stores, certain mattresses are available exclusively online, so you’ll only be able to try them once they’re delivered.
BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.
Which twin XL mattress is best?
Twin mattresses may be too short for some people, particularly taller sleepers seeking more leg room. If it’s time to upgrade to a longer mattress, consider a twin XL, which is recommended for people 6 feet or taller.
Twin XL mattresses are 5 inches longer than regular twin mattresses. While it doesn’t seem like much, it may provide enough room for sleepers to get more comfortable without their feet hanging over the edge. Saatva Classic Mattress, a hybrid innerspring mattress, is a quality model with pressure point relief and no-sag edges.
What to know before you buy a twin XL mattress
Twin XL mattress dimensions
Twin XL mattresses measure 38 x 80 inches, whereas regular twin mattresses are 38 x 75 inches. Comparatively speaking, a twin XL offers an additional 190 square inches of room compared to a twin. It’s worth noting that twin XL mattresses are actually as long as queen and king mattresses.
Types of mattresses
To narrow your options among twin XL mattresses, it’s helpful to determine which type of mattress best suits you.
Innerspring mattresses have rows of metal coils or springs. They’re covered by layers of batting, and in some mattresses, the uppermost layer is a plush pillow top.
Memory foam mattresses are made from several layers of foam, and sometimes, innerspring. They offer a balance of softness and support, making them popular among sleepers with more complex mattress needs.
Air mattresses are often used as guest mattresses and inflate and compress as needed. Some air mattresses require a separate pump, while many newer models have built-in pumps. Certain air mattresses are contoured with flocked tops to offer better support.
Foundation compatibility
Before you buy a twin XL mattress, determine whether it’s compatible with your existing foundation if you have one, whether it’s a bed frame, platform base, slatted bed or box spring. Otherwise, you’ll need to purchase a new foundation with the twin XL mattress. Fortunately, buying them together from the same retailer may include bundled discounts.
What to look for in a quality twin XL mattress
Firmness
In the world of mattresses, there are five main firmness levels: soft, medium soft, medium, medium-firm and firm. However, mattress manufacturers may use different names for firmness levels, which may lead to some confusion.
To simplify your search (especially if you’re only able to order your twin XL mattress online) read in-depth descriptions about how they characterize their firmness levels. Certain details may expand on the firmness level and specifically indicate the type of support or sleeping position the mattress best serves.
Thickness
Standard twin XL mattresses are 6-10 inches deep, though there are some mattresses that are 18 inches. While thickness may not impact your purchase decision too much, it plays a role in the type of twin XL bedding you buy. Mattresses thicker than 10 inches, for example, may require deep-pocket sheets or longer duvets.
Cooling features
Some twin XL mattresses have cooling features to better regulate temperature. Gel layers are cool to the touch and stay cooler longer. Perforated memory foam layers distribute heat away from the body, while some pillow tops are filled with lightweight, breathable materials.
How much you can expect to spend on a twin XL mattress
Entry-level innerspring twin XL mattresses cost around $500, and hybrid mattresses start at $900. Twin XL mattresses with specialized support or breathable features cost $1,200 or more.
Twin XL mattress FAQ
Can I use twin bedding for a twin XL mattress?
A. There are some bedding sets that fit both twin and twin XL mattresses, though many buyers agree the fit is less than perfect. Twin XL bedding is usually too long for twin beds, though it can be fitted with strategic tucking and bed sheet clips.
How are twin XL mattresses delivered?
A. Most innerspring mattresses are delivered flat. Many hybrid and memory foam mattresses are shipped in a box. They’re usually folded or rolled up and require at least a couple days to decompress and off-gas.
What’s the best twin XL mattress to buy?
Top twin XL mattress
Saatva Classic Mattress
What you need to know: This hybrid innerspring mattress offers pressure point relief, making it popular for those with aches and pains.
What you’ll love: Plush 3-inch Euro pillow top gives the mattress a luxurious feel. Spinal zone technology promotes optimal alignment. Works well for those with different firmness preferences.
What you should consider: Might be a bit too soft for some people.
Where to buy: Sold by Saatva
Top twin XL mattress for the money
Leesa Hybrid Mattress
What you need to know: In addition to offering support through foam and pocketed coils, this mattress minimizes motion transfer.
What you’ll love: Breathable construction with a perforated layer. Has over 1,000 pocket springs for reliable support and firmness. Comes with a 100-night trial and 10-year warranty.
What you should consider: Mattress needs time to decompress and off-gas.
Where to buy: Sold by Leesa
Worth checking out
Puffy Lux Hybrid Mattress
What you need to know: Highly rated as a versatile mattress, the Puffy Lux fits on any foundation or frame.
What you’ll love: Hypoallergenic cover minimizes allergy triggers and debris buildup. Six-layer design includes breathable and cooling layers, which are helpful for hot sleepers. Adaptive pressure relief.
What you should consider: Mixed reviews regarding customer service and shipping.
Where to buy: Sold by Puffy
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Sian Babish writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | www.wavy.com | Best twin XL mattress | https://www.wavy.com/reviews/br/bed-bath-br/mattresses-pillows-br/best-twin-xl-mattress/ |
||||||
[
"Josh Breslow",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:48:08+00:00 | 2021-08-20 01:36:30 | Two "unruly passengers" were arrested Tuesday at Nashville International Airport after police said they refused to wear masks onboard their flights. | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fnational%2Funruly-passengers-arrested-at-tennessee-airport-after-refusing-to-wear-masks-on-flights%2F.json | en | NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Two “unruly” passengers were arrested Tuesday at Nashville International Airport after police said they refused to wear masks onboard their flights.
A warrant states airport police responded around 5:30 a.m. to gate C10, where a man, identified as 33-year-old Artur Grigoryan, would not wear his mask while on an American Airlines flight. The flight was delayed, as he was removed from the plane.
Artur Grigoryan (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)
Officers said they also received a call the night prior about Grigoryan, who had refused to wear a face covering onboard a Spirit Airlines flight and called the crew “vulgar names.” He was denied any future flights with Spirit Airlines, as a result.
Police said Grigoryan was also caught stealing sandwiches and a soda from the Green Beans Coffee Shop at the airport, while waiting to board the American Airlines flight. The owner of the shop chose not to prosecute Grigoryan for the theft.
Grigoryan was arrested and booked into the Metro jail on a charge of disorderly conduct.
In a separate incident later that same morning, a warrant states airport police responded to a report from Southwest Airlines about a passenger onboard one of their flights to Washington D.C. refusing to wear a mask. The pilot had turned the plane around, as a result.
James Swafford (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)
The passenger, identified by police as 24-year-old James Swafford, was removed from the plane. He became aggressive toward officers and used profanity in front of other passengers, causing a disturbance, according to investigators.
Swafford was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct.
Bond for both men was set at $1,000. | www.wavy.com | ‘Unruly’ passengers arrested at Tennessee airport after refusing to wear masks on flights | https://www.wavy.com/news/national/unruly-passengers-arrested-at-tennessee-airport-after-refusing-to-wear-masks-on-flights/ |
|||||
[
"Collette Bliss",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:52:29+00:00 | 2021-08-19 17:28:08 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Fbeauty-personal-care-br%2Fskin-treatments-br%2Fbest-serum-for-acne-scars%2F.json | en | When using an acne scar serum, don’t forget other important parts of your skincare routine: be sure to wash your face, apply moisturizer and wear sunscreen as well.
Which serum for acne scars is best?
If persistent pimples weren’t annoying enough, the scars they leave behind can be immensely frustrating. For people of all ages, getting rid of those acne scars can boost confidence and create more comfort in their skin. However, clearing acne scars is easier said than done, and finding a serum that can do the job without causing further damage can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. Clearstem CellRenew Serum can reduce acne scars, inflammation and fine lines in as little as a week while increasing collagen production.
What to know before you buy a serum for acne scars
Acne scar causes
While the causes of acne breakouts are complex and multifaceted, acne scars have a more direct cause: acne. Acne breakouts damage the skin, and your body rushes to repair the skin, causing abnormal collagen production in the affected area. This abnormal collagen production on the damaged skin gives the skin a bumpy or pitted appearance. Whether your acne scars are raised or depressed, they can be very difficult to treat. Popping and picking at pimples is the most common cause of acne scarring.
Acne scars types
Most acne scars look generally the same, but they actually come in a variety of types.
Rolling scars are typically wide, shallow depressions in the skin that have a rounded shape and sloping edges, causing the skin to take on a wavy texture. Rolling scars are typically the result of a prolonged period of inflammatory acne.
Boxcar scars are similar to rolling scars in that they’re wide and shallow, but they have sharp steep edges and are well-defined. Boxcar scars typically occur from inflammatory acne.
Icepick scars are deep and narrow indentations in the skin that have jagged edges. They make the skin look like it’s been punctured with a small needle, hence the name. Icepick scars are usually the result of hormonal acne.
Hyperpigmentation is the technical term for the dark reddish spots that are the most common aftermath of acne breakouts. Hyperpigmentation spots are not technically scars but the result of the skin’s natural healing process. These flat marks occur as inflammation in the skin causes an increase in melanin production. Post-acne hyperpigmentation often fades on its own, but over the course of months or even years.
What to look for in a quality serum for acne scars
Formula
When choosing an acne scar serum, ensure that you take your skin type into account. For oily or combination skin types, water-based formulas are usually best. These formulas tend to be oil-free so you don’t have to worry about an oily serum clogging your pores and causing more breakouts. For dry or normal skin, thicker oil-based formulas are better, as they hydrate your skin and keep it from drying out.
Scent
If you’re sensitive to potent smells, be aware when purchasing an acne scar serum. Some serums have a fairly strong medicinal scent, while others include artificial fragrances. If your skin is sensitive, opt for a serum without artificial scents, as they can irritate the skin. Fragrance-free serums are a safe option for most users.
How much you can expect to spend on a serum for acne scars
Acne scar serums can vary greatly in price, usually based on the number of active ingredients they contain but typically cost $6-$160. For $6-$30 are serums that have only one active ingredient. For $30-$70, you’ll find two to three active ingredients. Acne scar serums with three or more active ingredients fall in the $70-$160 range.
Serum for acne scars FAQ
How long does it take to see results from my acne scar serum?
A. This depends primarily on what type of scars you have. Hyperpigmentation, for example, heals in 3-4 weeks. Textured scars take a lot longer, usually 3-4 months.
What type of acne scar serum should I use if I have both acne scars and active breakouts?
A. If you have both acne scars and active breakouts, opt for an acne scar serum containing salicylic acid, which can clean deep in pores to fade your scars and get rid of the dirt that causes breakouts in the first place. Make sure to avoid oil-based scar serums if you’re trying to prevent breakouts.
What’s the best serum for acne scars to buy?
Top serum for acne scars
Clearstem CellRenew Serum
What you need to know: A straightforward serum with results in only a week.
What you’ll love: Acne scars, inflammation, fine lines and wrinkles are all reduced in a week. Boosts collagen. Formula contains natural and organic ingredients. Cruelty-free.
What you should consider: Customers found that the packaging isn’t ideal for efficient use of the product.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top acne scar serum for the money
InstaNatural Age-Defying and Skin-Clearing Serum
What you need to know: A bright citrus smell with powerful blemish reduction.
What you’ll love: Uses a blend of antioxidants to soothe and revitalize the skin, fading acne scars and fighting blemishes. Protects the skin against UV rays. Friendly price.
What you should consider: It gets worse before it gets better, as the retinol clearing your pores may cause breakouts in the first few weeks of use.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Evologie Stay Clear Cream
What you need to know: Effective for both active acne and acne scars.
What you’ll love: This serum is made from a powerful blend of natural ingredients that go deep in the skin, reducing the appearance of scars without damaging skin. Fragrance-free and not tested on animals.
What you should consider: May dry the skin a bit.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Collette Bliss writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | www.wavy.com | Best serum for acne scars | https://www.wavy.com/reviews/br/beauty-personal-care-br/skin-treatments-br/best-serum-for-acne-scars/ |
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[
"Marcy Gordon",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:49:28+00:00 | 2021-08-19 16:10:40 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Ftechnology%2Fgovt-sharpens-antitrust-attack-against-facebook-with-filing%2F.json | en | FILE- In this March 29, 2018, file photo, the logo for Facebook appears on screens at the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York’s Times Square. A senior Federal Trade Commission official is criticizing Facebook’s move to shut down the personal accounts of two academic researchers and terminate their probe into misinformation spread through political ads on the social network, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal regulators have sharpened their antitrust attack against Facebook, alleging in a revised complaint Thursday that the social network giant pursued a laser-focused strategy to “buy or bury” rivals to suppress competition.
It is the Federal Trade Commission’s second antitrust run at the company. A federal judge in June dismissed antitrust lawsuits brought against Facebook by the agency and a broad coalition of state attorneys general that were among multiplying efforts by federal and state regulators to rein in tech titans’ market power.
The FTC again is seeking remedies that could include a forced spinoff of Facebook’s popular Instagram and WhatsApp messaging services, or a restructuring of the company.
The agency’s lawsuit last December alleged Facebook engaged in a “systematic strategy” to eliminate its competition, including by purchasing smaller up-and-coming rivals like Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014.
Facebook said the FTC was attempting to revive a meritless lawsuit and said it will vigorously defend itself against what it said is an effort to rewrite antitrust laws.
“There was no valid claim that Facebook was a monopolist — and that has not changed,” the company based in Menlo Park, California, said in a prepared statement. “Our acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp were reviewed and cleared many years ago, and our platform policies were lawful.”
The company has until Oct. 4 to formally respond.
The new FTC complaint lays out a detailed history of Facebook’s conduct, particularly since the arrival of mobile devices like smartphones in the 2010s, and the rise of innovative rivals.
Paul Swanson, an antitrust litigator at law firm Holland & Hart in Denver, said the new complaint addresses the court’s concerns “head-on.”
“Facebook will need new arguments to beat back the FTC’s case,” Swanson said.
Separately, the agency dismissed a request from Facebook that FTC Chair Lina Khan — an outspoken critic of Big Tech appointed in June by President Joe Biden — step aside in this case because of her past public statements. Facebook says Khan’s criticism of its market power when she was an academic and the legal director of an anti-monopoly think tank, and her more recent work on a congressional investigation, make it impossible for her to be impartial.
The FTC’s general counsel’s office reviewed the petition and dismissed the request on grounds that the company’s due-process rights will be fully protected in the federal court proceeding.
Without Khan’s vote, the FTC’s case against Facebook could have stalled by splitting the vote between the four other commissioners — two Democrats and two Republicans. The vote to file the amended complaint was 3-2, with the two Republicans voting against it.
Consumer advocates applauded the FTC’s decision to refile the antitrust complaint against the social media company with nearly 3 billion global users that they have long accused of wielding monopoly power and undertaking anticompetitive acquisitions. Facebook’s market value recently topped $1 trillion; its revenue last year reached about $85 billion.
“Facebook is one of the worst offenders, and it’s long past time for this company to be broken up,” Alex Harmon, competition policy advocate for Public Citizen, said in a statement.
Harmon and other advocates said, however, that the regulators need support from Congress to update antitrust laws that have been weakened and make cases like the FTC’s against Facebook difficult.
An ambitious, bipartisan package of legislation to overhaul the antitrust laws, which could point toward breaking up Facebook as well as Google, Amazon and Apple, was approved by the House Judiciary Committee in June and sent to the full House.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ruled in June that the FTC’s original lawsuit was “legally insufficient” and didn’t provide enough evidence to prove that Facebook was a monopoly. He dismissed the states’ separate complaint outright.
But his ruling only dismissed the FTC’s complaint but not the case, giving the agency a chance to file a revised complaint.
In the new filing, the FTC laid out a detailed analysis to substantiate its monopoly power claim.
“Direct evidence, including historical events and market realities” confirms the allegation, the complaint says. The harm to consumers from the lack of competition “is particularly severe,” it says.
Some of the material meant to show dominant market share is redacted in the public version of the filing, including internal Facebook emails.
The agency made its case anew Thursday as Facebook, Google, Amazon and Apple fall under extreme scrutiny and legislative pressure from the FTC, the Justice Department, European regulators, lawmakers in Congress and state legislatures. Most recently, Biden last month issued a sweeping executive order to stanch anticompetitive conduct in U.S. industry, including a call for federal regulators to give closer scrutiny to mergers proposed by the tech giants.
Last October the Trump Justice Department, joined by about a dozen states, brought a landmark antitrust suit against Google, accusing the company of using its dominance in online search to stifle competition and innovation at the expense of consumers. As it stands, the case isn’t scheduled to go to trial in federal court for nearly three years.
__
Follow Marcy Gordon at https://twitter.com/mgordonap | www.wavy.com | Govt sharpens antitrust attack against Facebook with filing | https://www.wavy.com/news/technology/govt-sharpens-antitrust-attack-against-facebook-with-filing/ |
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[
"Robert Burns",
"Matthew Lee",
"Lolita C. Baldor",
"Associated Press",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:48:22+00:00 | 2021-08-19 04:18:27 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fafghans-plead-for-faster-us-evacuation-from-taliban-rule%2F.json | en | Afghan security guards stand on a wall as hundreds of people gather outside the international airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021. The Taliban declared an “amnesty” across Afghanistan and urged women to join their government Tuesday, seeking to convince a wary population that they have changed a day after deadly chaos gripped the main airport as desperate crowds tried to flee the country. (AP Photo)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States struggled Thursday to pick up the pace of American and Afghan evacuations at Kabul airport, constrained by obstacles ranging from armed Taliban checkpoints to paperwork problems. With an Aug. 31 deadline looming, tens of thousands remained to be airlifted from the chaotic country.
Taliban fighters and their checkpoints ringed the airport— major barriers for Afghans who fear that their past work with Westerners makes them prime targets for retribution. Hundreds of Afghans who lacked any papers or clearance for evacuation also congregated outside the airport, adding to the chaos that has prevented even some Afghans who do have papers and promises of flights from getting through.
It didn’t help that many of the Taliban fighters could not read the documents.
In a hopeful sign, State Department spokesman Ned Price said in Washington that 6,000 people were cleared for evacuation Thursday and were expected to board military flights in coming hours. That would mark a major increase from recent days. About 2,000 passengers were flown out on each of the past two days, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.
Kirby said the military has aircraft available to evacuate 5,000 to 9,000 people per day, but until Thursday far fewer designated evacuees had been able to reach, and then enter, the airport.
Kirby told reporters the limiting factor has been available evacuees, not aircraft. He said efforts were underway to speed processing, including adding State Department consular officers to verify paperwork of Americans and Afghans who managed to get to the airport. Additional entry gates had been opened, he said.
And yet, at the current rate it would be difficult for the U.S. to evacuate all of the Americans and Afghans who are qualified for and seeking evacuation by Aug. 31. President JoeBiden said Wednesday he would ensure no American was left behind, even if that meant staying beyond August, an arbitrary deadline that he set weeks before the Taliban climaxed a stunning military victory by taking Kabul last weekend. It was not clear if Biden might consider extending the deadline for evacuees who aren’t American citizens.
At the airport, military evacuation flights continued, but access remained difficult for many. On Thursday, Taliban militants fired into the air to try to control the crowds gathered at the airport’s blast walls. Men, women and children fled. U.S. Navy fighter jets flew overhead, a standard military precaution but also a reminder to the Taliban that the U.S. has firepower to respond to a combat crisis.
There is no accurate figure of the number of people — Americans, Afghans or others — who are in need of evacuation as the process is almost entirely self-selecting. For example, the State Department says that when it ordered its nonessential embassy staff to leave Kabul in April after Biden’s withdrawal announcement, fewer than 4,000 Americans had registered for security updates. The actual number, including dual U.S.-Afghan citizens along with family members, is likely much higher, with estimates ranging from 11,000 to 15,000. Tens of thousands of Afghans may also be in need of escape.
Compounding the uncertainty, the U.S. government has no way to track how many registered Americans may have left Afghanistan already. Some may have returned to the United States but others may have gone to third countries.
At the Pentagon, Kirby declined to say whether Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had recommended to Biden that he extend the Aug. 31 deadline. Given the Taliban’s takeover of the country, staying beyond that date would require at least the Taliban’s acquiescence, he said. He said he knew of no such talks yet between U.S. and Taliban commanders, who have been in regular touch for days to limit conflict at the airport as part of what the White House has termed a “safe passage” agreement worked out on Sunday.
“I think it is just a fundamental fact of the reality of where we are, that communications and a certain measure of agreement with the Taliban on what we’re trying to accomplish has to occur,” Kirby said.
Of the approximately 2,000 people airlifted from the airport in the 24 hours ended Wednesday morning, nearly 300 were Americans, Kirby said. U.S. lawmakers were briefed Thursday morning that 6,741 people had been evacuated since Aug. 14, including 1,762 American citizens and Green Card holders, according to two congressional aides.
Although Afghanistan had been a hotspot for the coronavirus pandemic, the State Department said Thursday that evacuees are not required to get negative COVID-19 results.
“A blanket humanitarian waiver has been implemented for COVID-19 testing for all persons the U.S. government is relocating from Afghanistan,” the department said. Medical exams, including COVID-19 tests, had been required for evacuees prior to the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, which added extra urgency to efforts to get at-risk Afghans out.
Additional American troops continued to arrive at the airport. As of Thursday there were about 5,200, including Marines who specialize in evacuation coordination and an Air Force unit that specializes in emergency airport operations. Biden has authorized a total deployment of about 6,000.
Hoping to secure evacuation seats are American citizens and other foreigners, Afghan allies of the Western forces, and women, journalists, activists and others most at risk from the fundamentalist Taliban.
Will U.S. troops go beyond the airport perimeter to collect and escort people? Austin suggested on Wednesday that this was not currently feasible. “We don’t have the capability to go out and collect large numbers of people,” he told reporters.
Austin added that evacuations would continue “until the clock runs out or we run out of capability.”
Afghans in danger because of their work with the U.S. military or U.S organizations, and Americans scrambling to get them out, also pleaded with Washington to cut the red tape that has complicated matters.
“If we don’t sort this out, we’ll literally be condemning people to death,” said Marina Kielpinski LeGree, the American head of a nonprofit, Ascend. The organization’s young Afghan female colleagues were in the mass of people waiting for flights at the airport in the wake of days of mayhem, tear gas and gunshots. | www.wavy.com | US struggles to speed Kabul airlift despite Taliban, chaos | https://www.wavy.com/news/politics/afghans-plead-for-faster-us-evacuation-from-taliban-rule/ |
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[
"Ahmad Seir",
"Tameem Akhgar",
"Kathy Gannon",
"Joseph Krauss",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:51:36+00:00 | 2021-08-19 06:58:24 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Ftaliban-marks-afghan-independence-as-challenges-to-rule-rise%2F.json | en | Taliban fighters patrol in the Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood in the city of Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. The Taliban declared an “amnesty” across Afghanistan and urged women to join their government Tuesday, seeking to convince a wary population that they have changed a day after deadly chaos gripped the main airport as desperate crowds tried to flee the country. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban violently dispersed scattered protests for a second day Thursday amid warnings that Afghanistan’s already weakened economy could crumble further without the massive international aid that sustained the toppled Western-backed government.
The Taliban have sought to project moderation and say they want good relations with the international community, but they will face a difficult balancing act in making concessions to the West, satisfying their own hard-line followers and suppressing dissent.
A U.N. official warned of dire food shortages, and experts said the country was severely in need of cash, while noting that the Taliban are unlikely to enjoy the generous international aid that made up most of the ousted government’s budget.
The Taliban have pledged to forgive those who fought them and to restore security and normal life to the country after decades of war. But many Afghans fear a return to the Taliban’s harsh rule in the late 1990s, when the group largely confined women to their homes, banned television and music, chopped off the hands of suspected thieves and held public executions.
On Thursday, a procession of cars and people near Kabul’s airport carried long black, red and green banners in honor of the Afghan flag — a banner that is becoming a symbol of defiance. Video from another protest in Nangarhar province showed a bleeding demonstrator with a gunshot wound. Onlookers tried to carry him away.
In Khost province, Taliban authorities instituted a 24-hour curfew Thursday after violently breaking up another protest, according to information obtained by journalists monitoring from abroad. The authorities did not immediately acknowledge the demonstration or the curfew.
Protesters also took to the streets in Kunar province, according to witnesses and social media videos that lined up with reporting by The Associated Press.
The demonstrations — which came as people celebrated Afghan Independence Day and some commemorated the Shiite Ashoura festival — were a remarkable show of defiance after Taliban fighters violently disperseda protest Wednesday. At least one person was killed at that rally, in the eastern city of Jalalabad, after demonstrators lowered the Taliban’s flag and replaced it with the tricolor.
Meanwhile, opposition figures gathering in the last area of the country not under Taliban rule talked of launching an armed resistance under the banner of the Northern Alliance, which joined with the U.S. during the 2001 invasion.
It was not clear how serious a threat they posed given that Taliban fighters overran nearly the entire country in a matter of days with little resistance from Afghan forces.
The Taliban so far have offered no specifics on how they will lead, other than to say they will be guided by Shariah, or Islamic, law. They are in talks with senior officials of previous Afghan governments. But they face an increasingly precarious situation.
“A humanitarian crisis of incredible proportions is unfolding before our eyes,” warned Mary Ellen McGroarty, the head of the U.N.’s World Food Program in Afghanistan.
Beyond the difficulties of bringing food into the landlocked nation dependent on imports, she said that over 40% of the country’s crop has been lost to drought. Many who fled the Taliban advance now live in parks and open spaces in Kabul.
“This is really Afghanistan’s hour of greatest need, and we urge the international community to stand by the Afghan people at this time,” she said.
Hafiz Ahmad, a shopkeeper in Kabul, said some food has flowed into the capital, but prices have gone up. He hesitated to pass those costs onto his customers but said he had to.
“It is better to have it,” he said. “If there were nothing, then that would be even worse.”
Two of Afghanistan’s key border crossings with Pakistan are now open for trade. However, traders still fear insecurity on the roads and confusion over customs duties that could push them to price their goods higher.
Amid all the uncertainty and fears of Taliban rule, thousands of Afghans are fleeing the country.
At Kabul’s international airport, military evacuation flights continued, but access to the airport remained difficult. On Thursday, Taliban fighters fired into the air to try to control the crowds gathered at the airport’s blast walls.
After a chaotic start in which people rushed the runway and some clung to a plane taking off, the U.S. military is ramping up evacuations and now has enough aircraft to get 5,000 to 9,000 people out a day, Army Maj. Gen. Hank Taylor said Thursday.
President Joe Biden said he was committed to keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan until every American is evacuated, even if that means maintaining a military presence there beyond his Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawal.
In an interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Biden said he thought the Taliban were going through an “existential crisis” about whether they wanted to be internationally recognized as a legitimate government. “I’m not sure they do,” he said.
The Taliban have urged people to return to work, but most government officials remain in hiding or are themselves attempting to flee. The U.S. has apparently frozen Afghanistan’s foreign reserves and shipments of dollars that help sustain the local currency, the afghani. The International Monetary Fund has cut off access to loans or other resources for now.
“The afghani has been defended by literally planeloads of U.S. dollars landing in Kabul on a very regular basis, sometimes weekly,” said Graeme Smith, a consultant researcher with the Overseas Development Institute. “If the Taliban don’t get cash infusions soon to defend the afghani, I think there’s a real risk of a currency devaluation that makes it hard to buy bread on the streets of Kabul for ordinary people.”
Smith, who has written a book on Afghanistan, said the Taliban are unlikely to ask for the same billions in international aid sought by the country’s fallen civilian government — large portions of which were siphoned off by corruption.
The Taliban have long profited off the drug trade in Afghanistan, which is the world’s top cultivator of the poppy from which opium and heroin are produced. The militants now have access to customs duties from the border crossings, which were the main source of domestic income for the previous government.
But 75% of the previous government’s budget was covered by donor countries.
“It costs a lot less to run an insurgency than it does to run a government,” said Laurel Miller, director of the Asia program at the Crisis Group, an international think tank. “The opium trade and the border crossings (are) not enough money to run a government, at least as it has been run in recent years.”
The Taliban will struggle to make accommodations to the West while satisfying the ultraconservative Muslim fighters that brought them to power after a 20-year insurgency, with the latter likely being the priority, Miller said. Even a significant shift toward moderation might not be enough for Western countries to keep the aid flowing.
“How ready is Congress going to be to vote for development assistance for a Taliban government?” she said.
___
Akhgar reported from Istanbul, Gannon from Guelph, Canada, and Krauss from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Rahim Faiez in Istanbul, Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Munir Ahmed in Islamabad and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report. | www.wavy.com | Taliban suppress more dissent as economic challenges loom | https://www.wavy.com/news/world/taliban-marks-afghan-independence-as-challenges-to-rule-rise/ |
||||||
[
"Collin Binkley",
"Associated Press",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:49:08+00:00 | 2021-08-19 15:03:03 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fus-to-erase-student-debt-for-those-with-severe-disabilities%2F.json | en | Education Secretary Miguel Cardona speaks to press after a visit to P.S. 5 Port Morris, a Bronx elementary school, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021 in New York. (AP Photo/Brittainy Newman)
The Biden administration announced Thursday it will automatically erase student loan debt for more than 300,000 Americans with severe disabilities that leave them unable to earn significant incomes.
The move will wipe out more than $5.8 billion in debt, according to the Education Department, and it marks the start of a broader overhaul of a program that has been criticized for having overly burdensome rules.
“We’ve heard loud and clear from borrowers with disabilities and advocates about the need for this change and we are excited to follow through on it,” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement.
The federal government offers student debt relief for people who are “totally and permanently disabled” and have limited incomes. But the current rules require them to submit documentation of their disability and undergo a three-year monitoring period to prove they’re earning little pay.
Tens of thousands of people have been dropped from the program and had their loans reinstated simply because they failed to submit proof of their earnings, however, and critics say the complex rules deter some from applying.
Advocates have pressed the Education Department to eliminate the monitoring period entirely and to provide automatic debt relief to people who the Social Security Administration already identifies as permanently disabled.
Under the new action, both demands will be met. Starting in September, the Education Department will start erasing student debt for 323,000 Americans identified in Social Security records as being permanently disabled.
Borrowers will be notified once they have been approved for relief. All of the loans are expected to be discharged by the end of the year.
The department also plans to eliminate the program’s three-year monitoring period, which was previously suspended during the pandemic. That change is expected to be cemented during a federal rulemaking process set to start in October, the agency said.
“This is going to be a smooth process for our borrowers,” Cardona said in a call with reporters. “They’re not going to have to be applying for it or getting bogged down by paperwork.”
Advocates celebrated the change as a victory. Aaron Ament, president of the National Student Legal Defense Network, called it a “life-changing” step.
“This is a huge moment for hundreds of thousands of borrowers with disabilities who can now move on with their lives and won’t be trapped in a cycle of debt,” he said.
Democrats in Congress said it was the right move. Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, said borrowers shouldn’t face paperwork and other administrative hurdles if the federal government already knows they’re eligible for loan forgiveness.
“With this simple and sensible change, more than 320,000 borrowers and their families are being freed from the burden of student loans that they should not have to repay,” Scott said in a statement.
The program has faced scrutiny since 2016, when a federal watchdog agency found that the income reporting process posed an obstacle for borrowers. In 98% of cases in which loans were restored, it was because borrowers did not submit paperwork, not because their earnings were too high, the U.S. Government Accountability Office reported.
The Trump administration started granting automatic loan cancellations to eligible military veterans in 2019, but the move did not apply to hundreds of thousands of other Americans with disabilities.
In March, the Education Department canceled debt for more than 40,000 borrowers whose debt had been restored because of paperwork issues, but it indicated further changes would need to come through a federal rulemaking process.
Cardona announced the change as the White House faces mounting pressure to pursue wider debt forgiveness.
Democrats including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, N.Y., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Mass., have called on Biden to erase $50,000in student debt for all borrowers as a way to jumpstart the economy.
Biden has asked the Education and Justice departments to assess the legality of mass debt cancellation. Cardona said Thursday that those conversations are “still underway.” Meanwhile, he said, his agency is working to improve other debt forgiveness programs that target specific groups of borrowers.
“It’s an effort to show that we are working to improve targeted loan relief and help our borrowers,” he said. | www.wavy.com | US to erase student debt for those with severe disabilities | https://www.wavy.com/news/politics/us-to-erase-student-debt-for-those-with-severe-disabilities/ |
||||||
[
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:48:02+00:00 | 2021-08-20 01:35:16 | OnlyFans plans to ban pornography starting in October, Bloomberg first reported on Thursday. | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fnational%2Fonlyfans-to-ban-pornography-starting-in-october%2F.json | en | (Watch a story from May about an OnlyFans creator in the video player above.)
CLEVELAND (WJW) – OnlyFans plans to ban pornography starting Oct. 1, Bloomberg first reported on Thursday.
The content sharing website, which gained popularity during the pandemic, is used by sex workers to sell explicit vides and photos. While it’s well known for its nude content, OnlyFans is also used by personal stylists, photographers and musicians.
OnlyFans users will still be able to post nude videos and photos as long as they are consistent with the site’s policy. More details on what that entails were not released.
“In order to ensure the long-term sustainability of the platform, and to continue to host an inclusive community of creators and fans, we must evolve our content guidelines,” OnlyFans said in a statement.
According to several reports, OnlyFans also has a financial motive for the content restriction. The company told Variety in a statement that they were making the change “to comply with the requests of our banking partners and payout partners.”
Nexstar’s WJW spoke to a local OnlyFans content creator earlier this year. The 25-year-old woman, who posts weekly photos of herself nude or in lingerie, said it started as a way to help her family financially during the pandemic.
“My husband and I actually worked at the same restaurant and we both lost our jobs,” she said.
OnlyFans was started in 2016 and now boasts more than 130 million users. | www.wavy.com | OnlyFans to ban pornography starting in October | https://www.wavy.com/news/national/onlyfans-to-ban-pornography-starting-in-october/ |
|||||
[
"Diarlei Rodrigues",
"Marcelo Silva De Sousa",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:50:15+00:00 | 2021-08-19 15:15:34 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fbrazil-city-district-slipping-into-sea-after-river-diverted%2F.json | en | The ruins of the Predio do Julinho hotel that collapsed in 2008 due to the encroachment by the sea lay on the beachfront in Atafona, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021. The hotel is among more than 500 other building that have fallen victim to the encroaching Atlantic Ocean, so far. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
SAO JOAO DA BARRA, Brazil (AP) — Decades ago, Júlia María de Assis thought someday she would take over the hotel her father had begun building in Atafona, a seaside district in Brazil’s northern Rio de Janeiro state.
But the very attraction that drew the tourists to Atafona – the sea – became its foe. Advancing water put the hotel’s construction on hold until, 13 years ago, the ocean’s force finally tore it down. Almost 500 other buildings have succumbed, too.
“It was going to be 48 suites – a big hotel that never started operations,” said de Assis, 51, standing beside rubble that once composed her family’s dream. “Even though the hotel’s structure was strong, every time the waves hit the building they damaged it and, finally, it collapsed.”
As a result of human action, over the past half century the Atlantic Ocean has been relentlessly consuming Atafona, part of the Sao Joao da Barra municipality that is 250 kilometers (155 miles) from Rio de Janeiro’s capital and home to 36,000 people. Due to climate change, there is little hope for a solution. Instead, Atafona will slip into the sea.
The Paraiba do Sul River, which originates in neighboring Sao Paulo state, brings sediment and sand to Atafona where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Its flow was mostly diverted in the 1950s to provide water to the growing capital, which weakened Atafona’s natural barrier to the ocean, said Pedro de Araújo, materials technology professor at the Fluminense Federal Institute.
“Less land sediment and sand that stabilized the coast made it so the sea is eating away at the city,” said de Araújo, who is pursuing a doctorate analyzing river erosion and seeking to model what that will mean for its delta going forward. He estimates that the river has one-third of its original flow.
Deforestation of mangroves in recent decades also left Atafona more vulnerable, said de Araújo. The sea’s average position moves some five meters (16 feet) inland every year, according to the professor.
“Sometimes the water comes up to my knees. My biggest fear is that one day it will take my hut,” fisherwoman Vanesa Gomes Barreto, 35, said at the stall where she sells her catch. “There was a chapel here, a bakery. It was a very large city, of which only a piece remains. The sea swallowed everything, even my childhood.”
Specialists have evaluated possible solutions, such as construction of artificial barriers or depositing vast quantities of sand, but none appear effective enough to halt the ocean’s advance. Global sea level rise due to melting ice means destruction will continue, and at a faster rate, de Araújo said.
People often ask de Assis, who thought she would inherit a hotel, if her city’s reversal of fortunes saddens her. She says she is grateful she was born in Atafona, but that humans need to respect nature.
“I feel nostalgic for the house where I spent summers,” she said, and pointed to the sea. “It’s at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.”
___
Silva de Sousa reported from Rio de Janeiro. | www.wavy.com | Brazil city district slipping into sea after river diverted | https://www.wavy.com/news/world/brazil-city-district-slipping-into-sea-after-river-diverted/ |
||||||
[
"Mari Yamaguchi",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:49:15+00:00 | 2021-08-19 13:04:13 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fscience%2Fjapan-aims-to-bring-back-soil-samples-from-mars-moon-by-2029%2F.json | en | TOKYO (AP) — Japanese space agency scientists said Thursday they plan to bring soil samples back from the Mars region ahead of the United States and China, which started Mars missions last year, in hopes of finding clues to the planet’s origin and traces of possible life.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, plans to launch an explorer in 2024 to land on Phobos, a Martian moon, to collect 10 grams (0.35 ounce) of soil and bring it back to Earth in 2029.
The rapid return trip is expected to put Japan ahead of the United States and China in bringing back samples from the Martian region despite starting later, project manager Yasuhiro Kawakatsu said in an online news conference.
NASA’s Perseverance rover has landed in a Mars crater where it is to collect 31 samples that are to be returned to Earth with help from the European Space Agency as early as 2031. China in May became the second country to land and operate a spacecraft on Mars and plans to bring back samples around 2030.
JAXA scientists believe about 0.1% of the surface soil on Phobos came from Mars, and 10 grams could contain about 30 granules, depending on the consistency of the soil, Kawakatsu said.
Tomohiro Usui, professor at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, said soil on Phobos is likely to be a mixture of material from the moon itself and material from Mars that was spread by sandstorms. Collecting samples from multiple locations on Phobos could provide a greater chance of obtaining possible traces of life from Mars than obtaining soil from a single location on Mars, he said.
Any life forms that might have come from Mars will have died because of harsh solar and cosmic radiation on Phobos, JAXA scientists said. The NASA and the European Space Agency missions focus on potential life forms and evolution of the area of the Jezero crater, believed to be an ancient lake.
By studying Phobos soil samples including material from Mars, scientists hope to learn about the evolution of the Martian biosphere, Usui said.
He said Japanese research on Phobos and NASA’s samples from specific locations in the Martian crater can complement each other and could lead to answers to questions such as how Martian life, if present, emerged and evolved in time and place.
Last December, a JAXA probe, Hayabusa2, brought back more than 5 grams (0.19 ounce) of soil from the asteroid Ryugu, more than 300 million kilometers (190 million miles) from Earth, in the world’s first successful return of an asteroid sample. | www.wavy.com | Japan aims to bring back soil samples from Mars moon by 2029 | https://www.wavy.com/news/science/japan-aims-to-bring-back-soil-samples-from-mars-moon-by-2029/ |
||||||
[
"The Associated Press",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:47:43+00:00 | 2021-08-19 07:44:18 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fhealth%2Fthe-latest-latvians-protest-mandatory-vaccination%2F.json | en | FILE – In this July 22, 2021, file photo, health care worker fills a syringe with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. U.S. health officials Wednesday, Aug. 18, recommended all Americans get COVID-19 booster shots to shore up their protection amid the surging delta variant and evidence that the vaccines’ effectiveness is falling. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — More than 3,000 fake COVID-19 vaccination cards have been confiscated at cargo freight facilities at the Anchorage airport as they were being shipped from China.
Officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized the cards in the last week as they arrived in small packages.
An agency spokesperson said there were between 135 to 150 packages found in Anchorage, all sent by the same person in China. Each package contained a small number of the fake cards, between 20 to 90 cards.
A high volume of counterfeit vaccination cards have been detected nationwide.
Another 3,600 fake cards were found recently at cargo facilities in Memphis. Federal law enforcement officers are investigating.
___
MORE ON THE PANDEMIC:
— U.S. schools open amid record coronavirusdelta wave
— MaineSen. Angus King tests positive for virus
— Africa WHO official knocks nations that‘hoard’ vaccines
— 4 of Florida’s 5 largest school districts to require masks
___
Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine
___
HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
HONOLULU — Organizers of the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii said Thursday this year’s contest will be postponed to February because of increasing COVID-19 cases in the state.
On Thursday, the state’s seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases hit 713, up 56% from two weeks ago.
A statement on the group’s website said COVID-19 in Hawaii is worse now than it has been at any point during the pandemic. The race had been scheduled for Oct. 9.
The Ironman competition is considered one of the most important Ironman triathlon events. Participants swim 2.4 miles (3.9 kilometers), ride bikes for 112 miles (180.3 kilometers) and then run a marathon, which goes for 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometers).
Organizers rescheduled the contest last year too, only to later cancel it completely because of ongoing coronavirus concerns and the risks of international travel. It was the first time in the triathlon’s four decade history that the event wasn’t held.
___
PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown says all teachers, educators, support staff and volunteers in K-12 schools must be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The announcement was made Thursday amid a surge in coronavirus cases in the state and as hospitals near capacity.
Teachers are the latest to be added to the growing statewide vaccine mandate, which also includes health care workers and state employees. They must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18 or six weeks after a COVID-19 vaccine receives full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, whichever is later.
“There are those who will disagree with the actions I’m taking today,” Brown, a Democrat, said during Thursday’s press conference. “But school is starting across the state and COVID-19 poses a threat to our kids. Our kids need to be protected and they need to be in school. And that’s why I’m willing to take the heat for this decision.”
In addition, Brown announced weekly testing for health care workers will no longer be an option for those who want to avoid vaccination. The only opt-out of the requirement is either a medical or religious exemption.
___
ATLANTA — Georgia’s Republican governor issued an executive order Thursday banning cities from requiring businesses to enforce local pandemic restrictions.
But what impact, if any, the measure would have on new mask requirements in Atlanta, Savannah and other cities was not clear.
At a news conference, Gov. Brian Kemp said his order will prevent local governments from forcing businesses to be the city’s mask and vaccine police. He said he was concerned about measures in Atlanta and Savannah. Both cities have mask requirements, but it was not immediately clear that either would be affected by the governor’s order.
The order comes amid an explosion in COVID cases in the state.
___
TOPEKA, Kan. — Officials in some Kansas communities are battling a rise in COVID-19 cases by mandating masks for kids, issuing emergency orders and requiring vaccines.
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Kansas has risen over the past two weeks from 605 new cases per day on Aug. 3 to 797 new cases per day on Tuesday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
In the Lawrence area, Douglas County leaders approved a health order Wednesday that will require children ages 2 to 12 to wear masks while in indoor public spaces. The decision followed four hours of public comment that included jeering and interruptions from a largely maskless crowd, the Lawrence Journal-World reports.
In the Wichita area, hospital status was changed to critical Wednesday, as about 150 COVID-19 patients fill beds there, The Wichita Eagle reports.
___
DENVER — Colorado U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper announced Thursday that he has tested positive for a “breakthrough” case of COVID-19.
The first-term Democrat issued a statement saying he tested positive after experiencing mild symptoms and is self-isolating at the direction of the attending physician for the U.S. Congress, Dr. Brian P. Monahan.
Infections and illnesses can happen even after being vaccinated. Experts say vaccination could help make any illnesses less severe. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that newer versions of the coronavirus could be a factor in “breakthrough” cases.
Hickenlooper, 69, is a former brewpub entrepreneur, Denver mayor and two-term governor who defeated incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner in the 2020 election.
___
CLAYTON, Mo. — A judge on Thursday issued an order barring St. Louis County from enforcing a mask mandate while a lawsuit against it is litigated.
St. Louis County Executive Sam Page issued the mandate last month, prompting the County Council to vote to rescind it. Page maintained that the mask requirement nonetheless remained in effect.
Circuit Judge Ellen “Nellie” Ribaudo then issued a temporary restraining order, finding that the state was likely to prevail in its argument that current law gives the council the authority to terminate the mask requirement. That order was in effect only until a decision was made on a preliminary injunction.
Ribaudo was critical of some who had claimed victory after the temporary injunction was issued.
___
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee hospitals warned Thursday that the intensive care units are full in nearly every hospital in the state’s major metropolitan areas.
The Tennessee Hospital Association said in a statement that the hospitals with full ICUs are the same ones that normally accept transfers of sicker patients from smaller hospitals.
Hospital officials are pleading with Tennesseans to get vaccinated and wear masks.
Meanwhile, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona warned Tennessee in a letter sent Wednesday that Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order allowing parents to opt their children out of mask mandates might violate federal law.
Separately, a Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt School of Medicine report released Thursday found that hospitalizations have increased more than tenfold in a little more than a month, the fastest rate of increase seen during the pandemic.
___
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina’s top prosecutor on Thursday sued the state’s capital city over a school mask mandate that officials allege violates state law.
The city of Columbia’s school mask order conflicts with a state budget requirement that went into effect July 1 and bans school districts from using appropriated funds to require face coverings, State Attorney General Alan Wilson said in a complaint filed with the South Carolina Supreme Court.
The lawsuit comes as average daily cases of COVID-19 have risen by more than 60% over the last two weeks, with hundreds of students across the state already required to quarantine for exposure to the virus.
Earlier this month, Columbia’s city council ratified an ordinance mandating the use of masks in the city’s elementary and middle schools for at least the beginning of the school year.
The Republican attorney general said days later that the emergency ordinance should be “rescinded or amended,” but city leaders said the mandate doesn’t violate state law because city, not state, funds are being used.
___
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey will require all teachers, school administrators and other staff who have not been vaccinated to produce twice-weekly negative COVID-19 tests once schools reopen and resume in-person classes on Sept. 6, the president said.
Speaking following a Cabinet meeting Thursday, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said universities would also demand regular PCR tests from unvaccinated students and teaching staff.
People who have not been vaccinated and want to travel on buses and planes or to go to concerts, theaters and cinemas will also face mandatory COVID-19 testing, Erdogan added.
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said the tests would be conducted free-of-charge at state-owned hospitals.
___
RALEIGH, N.C. — The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill says unvaccinated students and those who don’t disclose their COVID-19 vaccination status will be required to get tested for the coronavirus twice a week.
In a message to the community, the university says 87% of students have attested they are fully vaccinated. Those who become fully vaccinated and report their status to the university will no longer have to face twice-weekly testing.
The move comes as the state witnesses its worst levels of transmission of the virus in months.
North Carolina on Thursday registered more than 7,000 daily COVID-19 cases, the highest in seven months. More than 3,000 people are hospitalized in the state with COVID-19, the most since Jan. 28.
___
PHOENIX — A northwestern Arizona school district has banned employees from discussing vaccination status or mask- wearing with students.
The Mohave Daily News reports the governing board for the Colorado River Union High School District made the decision this week. The edict carries no repercussions for administrators, staff and teachers who violate it. That will be up to the district’s superintendent, who supported the motion.
The school board’s gag rule is rare. Vaccines and masks remain contentious topics across Arizona as students return to school.
On Thursday, the state reported 3,546 confirmed coronavirus cases and four more deaths.
___
AUGUSTA, Maine — U.S. Sen. Angus King of Maine tested positive for the coronavirus Thursday, a day after he began feeling ill, his office announced.
King, an independent, says he’s definitely “not feeling great” but doing better than if he hadn’t been vaccinated.
“I am taking this diagnosis very seriously, quarantining myself at home and telling the few people I’ve been in contact with to get tested in order to limit any further spread,” King said in a statement.
The 77-year-old King says throughout the pandemic, he’s worked to protect himself, family and staff through masks, social distancing, a “work-from-home mindset. ” He’s used Zoom meetings and, until recently, was driving instead of flying to Washington, D.C.
He urged people to follow guidance from health professionals and “get vaccinated if you haven’t been.”
___
SEATTLE — Authorities say there are more people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Washington state than at any time during the pandemic.
Cassie Sauer, president of the Washington State Hospital Association. says there were 1,240 people with coronavirus in state hospitals. The previous highest number was about 1,100 in December.
Sauer says until the recent uptick in cases and hospitalizations due to the delta variant, the COVID-19 hospitalization rate in the state had been holding steady at 300 to 350 people. The numbers began increasing in early July and have been doubling about every two weeks.
___
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Four of the five largest school districts in Florida are defying an executive order by Gov. Ron DeSantis barring them from imposing strict mask mandates in schools.
Board members took action Wednesday after seeing the numbers in Hillsborough and Palm Beach counties. School began a week ago and already thousands of children have been sent home because teachers and classmates are infected with the delta variant of the coronavirus.
Veterans Affairs Dr. J. Stacey Klutts says it’s necessary to wear masks indoors and avoid large group gatherings. He says unprotected students sitting for hours in classrooms could rapidly spread infection.
Statewide, Florida reported 23,335 new infections for Tuesday, according to the CDC. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services dashboard reported 17,096 hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients.
DeSantis, a Republican, also is in an escalating power struggle with the Democratic White House. After President Joe Biden ordered possible legal action Wednesday, the U.S. Education Department raised the possibility of using its civil rights arm against Florida and other states that have blocked public health measures meant to protect students.
___
JACKSON, Miss. — Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi has tested positive for the coronavirus and is in isolation.
“Senator Wicker tested positive this morning for the COVID-19 virus after immediately seeking a test due to mild symptoms,” his communications director, Phillip Waller, said in a statement Thursday.
It says Senator Wicker is fully vaccinated, in good health and being treated by his Tupelo-based doctor.
“Everyone with whom Senator Wicker has come in close contact recently has been notified.” | www.wavy.com | The Latest: Customs seizes fake vaccination cards in Alaska | https://www.wavy.com/news/health/the-latest-latvians-protest-mandatory-vaccination/ |
||||||
[
"Andrew Dalton",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:55:37+00:00 | 2021-08-19 18:52:07 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fsports%2Fjudge-denies-woman-restraining-order-against-dodgers-bauer%2F.json | en | FILE – In this June 6, 2021, file photo, Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Trevor Bauer delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta. An attorney for Bauer told a judge that the Dodgers pitcher had every reason to believe that a woman wanted the rough treatment he gave her in two sexual encounters that led to her seeking a five-year restraining order against him. Lawyer Shawn Holley made the argument at a hearing Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Los Angeles judge sided with Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer on Thursday and denied a five-year restraining order requested by a woman who said he choked her into unconsciousness and punched her repeatedly during two sexual encounters.
In denying the civil domestic violence restraining order after a four-day hearing, Judge Dianna Gould-Saltman said that according to the 27-year-old San Diego woman’s testimony, Bauer honored her boundaries when she set them. And she said Bauer couldn’t know the boundaries she didn’t express to him.
“We consider in a sexual encounter that when a woman says no she should be believed,” Gould-Saltman said, “so what should we do when she says yes?”
The woman’s attorney, Lisa Helfend Meyer, said in her closing arguments that Bauer was a “monster” who far exceeded what the woman consented to, especially in punching her in the face and vagina and leaving serious bruising that was captured in photographs. Bauer also did things that the woman couldn’t consent to because she had been choked unconscious, including, according to her testimony, having anal sex with her while she was out, Meyer said.
“Let me be clear, the injuries as shown in the photographs are terrible,” said the judge, who issued her decision about five minutes after closing arguments were completed. However, she added, in her communications with Bauer the woman “was not ambiguous about wanting rough sex in the parties’ first encounter, and wanting rougher sex in the second encounter.”
Bauer had no visible reaction in court to the decision.
“We are grateful to the Los Angeles Superior Court for denying this request,” his lawyer Shawn Holley said outside the courthouse as he stood silently at her side. “We had expected this outcome since the petition was filed in June.”
It was a victory for Bauer in his public fight to clear his name, but serious hurdles remain, including a criminal investigation by police in Pasadena, California, and a probe by Major League Baseball.
“Allegations made against Trevor Bauer continue to be investigated by MLB’s Department of Investigations (DOI) under our Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy,” the league said in a statement after the decision. “We will comment further at the appropriate time.”
MLB put Bauer on paid administrative leave on July 2, and has extended the status through Aug. 27.
The judge cited the criminal investigation earlier Thursday in allowing Bauer to remain off the witness stand at the hearing, after the woman’s attorneys called him to testify.
Bauer said “yes, your honor” when Gould-Saltman asked if he intended to follow his lawyer’s advice and invoke his Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination.
That was the only time he spoke during the four-day hearing.
The woman took the stand for three days of dramatic and emotional testimony, crying frequently as she recounted how her excitement and emotional connection with Bauer turned into pain, confusion and fear after the two meetings in April and May.
“I felt like my soul left my body, and I was terrified,” she said. “I couldn’t fight back.”
At one point she wrapped her own hair around her neck as she sat on the witness stand, to show how she said Bauer had choked her.
Meyer, who had no comment outside court after the decision, said during her closing argument that she applauded her client for being “able to stand up to this monster and do the right thing.” She added that in her testimony she “revealed Trevor Bauer for who he really is, for all the world to see.”
But Holley said in her own closing that the purpose of the kind of order the woman sought is not to bring justice or publicly expose a person’s behavior, but to prevent future domestic violence and keep the two people involved apart.
“There is no one on the planet who would believe that there is any possibility that in this life or the next one, on this planet or another, that these two people will ever be in any kind of sexual relationship again,” Holley said.
The judge agreed, saying that Bauer did nothing to pursue or threaten the woman after the second and final time they met in person.
Holley focused throughout the week on messages the woman sent to Bauer between the two meetings.
“She says it was a ‘game changer’ when she was choked out,” Holley said during her closing argument. “She said ‘get a couple of slaps in there.’ She said ‘I’ve never been more turned on in my life.’ She said, ‘Give me all the pain.’”
“She wonders if it is her fault,” Holley said. “And she is right to wonder that.”
The judge cited the messages in her decision, and said the woman’s petition for the restraining order, which did not include them, was “materially misleading.”
The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they have been victims of sexual assault.
Earlier this year, after winning his first Cy Young with the Cincinnati Reds last season, Bauer agreed to a $102 million, three-year contract to join his hometown Dodgers.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | www.wavy.com | Judge denies woman restraining order against Dodgers’ Bauer | https://www.wavy.com/sports/judge-denies-woman-restraining-order-against-dodgers-bauer/ |
||||||
[
"The Associated Press",
"Nathan Crawford",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Jason Marks"
] | 2021-08-20 01:55:51+00:00 | 2021-08-20 01:15:19 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fsports%2Fleading-off-ohtani-road-show-to-cleveland-astros-optimism%2F.json | en | Los Angeles Angels catcher Max Stassi, from left, Brandon Marsh and Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrate after beating the Detroit Tigers 13-10 in a baseball game in Detroit, Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
A look at what’s happening around the majors on Friday:
___
WHAT WILL SHOHEI DO NEXT?
The Shohei Ohtani road show heads to Cleveland after the two-way superstar thrilled opposing crowds in Detroit.
Ohtani’s Los Angeles Angels — whose playoff chances are slim at one game over .500 — will play two games at the Indians’ home ballpark before both teams head to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, for the Little League Classic on Sunday night.
After that, LA travels to Baltimore for a three-game series against the major league-worst Orioles that’s expected to include Ohtani’s next mound start — perhaps a rare opportunity for Baltimore fans to feel some buzz.
Against Detroit, Ohtani had his longest mound start of the season, winning his fourth consecutive start with an eight-inning performance on Wednesday night. He also hit a towering, 430-foot homer — his major league-leading 40th of the season — that Tigers fans waiting for Miguel Cabrera to hit No. 500 couldn’t help but admire.
Ohtani followed it up with a 2-for-3 day as the Angels rallied from an eight-run deficit to beat the Tigers on Thursday.
OPTIMISM IN HOUSTON
Astros manager Dusty Baker has reasons to feel good about his AL West-leading club even after an uninspired seven-game trip.
Houston went 3-4 on the road against the Angels and Royals and begins a weeklong homestand on Friday by hosting division rival Seattle. The Astros lead Oakland by 2 1/2 games, which hasn’t escaped Baker’s notice.
“I’ve been scoreboard watching every day,” Baker said. “Scoreboard watching is something I do between innings when I’m not thinking about what to do. We’re just looking forward to the finish line. We have a ways to go, and we haven’t played our best ball yet.”
One thing that’s making Baker sanguine about the future is having Aledmys Díaz in the lineup. Díaz went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, including the go-ahead single in the 10th inning of a 6-3 win at Kansas City on Thursday.
“You can tell what (Díaz) means to this club (by looking at) the six weeks he was out,” Baker said.
SUB-BASEMENT
The major league-worst Baltimore Orioles haven’t even come within two runs of a win in the past week.
The Orioles dropped their 15th straight game on Thursday, falling 7-2 to the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays. And most of them haven’t been close.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, the Orioles are the first team since 1900 to lose 15 straight games by multiple runs. The closest Baltimore got was a 6-4 loss to Detroit on Aug. 12.
The Orioles have been outscored 138-42 during the skid, allowing an average of 9.2 runs per game.
After dropping four at Tampa Bay by scores of 9-2, 10-0, 8-4 and 7-2, Baltimore hosts another first-place team for a three-game series this weekend: NL-East winning Atlanta.
The Arizona Diamondbacks had the worst record in the majors for much of the season, but Baltimore now owns that distinction. Arizona is coming off a three-game sweep of Philadelphia and has won six of seven overall.
OCTOBER PREVIEW
Brandon Lowe knows this weekend may not be the last time the Rays face the Chicago White Sox in 2021.
The AL Central leaders visit the AL East leaders for a three-game series starting Friday.
“This is going to be kind of what we’re looking at postseason-wise, I feel like,” Lowe said. “You know the White Sox are going to make it, we feel like we’re going to make it. I think the games are going to be a little bit tougher, it’s going to be a little bit lower-scoring ballgames but it’s going to be a hard-fought battle for the whole series.”
Tampa Bay has won 11 of 14, and perhaps a playoff preview could lure a few more fans to Tropicana Field. In their four-game sweep of Baltimore, the Rays drew a total of 22,754 paying customers — an average of 5,689 per game.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | www.wavy.com | LEADING OFF: Ohtani road show to Cleveland; Astros optimism | https://www.wavy.com/sports/leading-off-ohtani-road-show-to-cleveland-astros-optimism/ |
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[
"Bob Christie",
"Associated Press",
"Nathan Crawford",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Jason Marks"
] | 2021-08-20 01:48:28+00:00 | 2021-08-19 22:18:12 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fappeals-court-orders-arizona-senate-audit-records-released%2F.json | en | PHOENIX (AP) — An appeals court on Thursday rejected an effort by the Arizona Senate to keep secret records of its ongoing review of the 2020 election in Maricopa County that are in the possession of the contractors conducting the recount.
The Arizona Court of Appeals ruled that the documents sought by the watchdog group American Oversight detailing how the recount and audit are being conducted are public and must be turned over.
Republicans who control the Senate argued that because the records are maintained by its contractors, they were not subject to public records law and that legislative immunity applies. But the court said that was not the case.
The court said the main contractor, Florida company Cyber Ninjas, was subject to the records law because it was performing a core government function that the Senate farmed out.
“Allowing the legislature to disregard the clear mandate of the (public records law) would undermine the integrity of the legislative process and discourage transparency, which contradicts the purpose of both the immunity doctrine and the (law),” acting presiding Judge Maria Elena Cruz wrote for the three-judge panel.
“The requested records are no less public records simply because they are in the possession of a third party, Cyber Ninjas,” Cruz wrote later in the ruling.
The ruling upholds a decision by a Maricopa County Superior Court judge, who has ordered the Senate to turn over the records by Aug. 31.
“The Senate has taken radical positions to obstruct basic public access to information about its so-called audit,” Austin Evers, American Oversight’s executive director, said in a statement. “It has tried to get away with outsourcing the audit to a third party and argued that the public has no right to enforce transparency laws against them.”
Kory Langhofer, the Senate’s lawyer, said they planned to appeal to the Arizona Supreme Court.
The unprecedented partisan recount and review of election results in the state’s most populous county was prompted by former President Donald Trump’s loss in the state and his contention without evidence that he lost in Arizona and other battleground states because of fraud.
Senate Republicans issued subpoenas to Maricopa County for all 2020 ballots, the machines that counted them and other data in the state’s most populated county.
The materials were given to contractors with little to no election experience for what Senate President Karen Fann calls a “forensic audit.” Election experts say the 2020 election was secure and well-run, and the contractors are using bizarre and unreliable procedures. Maricopa County has refused further participation.
The results of the audit and hand recount are expected to be handed over to the Senate next week. A date for public release has not been announced. | www.wavy.com | Appeals court orders Arizona Senate audit records released | https://www.wavy.com/news/politics/appeals-court-orders-arizona-senate-audit-records-released/ |
||||||
[
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:45:43+00:00 | 2021-08-19 18:18:47 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fentertainment-news%2Fcarnegie-adjusts-program-for-return-adds-beethoven-cycle%2F.json | en | NEW YORK (AP) — Carnegie Hall has changed the program for its return from the coronavirus shutdown and added a Beethoven cycle to the season with the Philadelphia Orchestra and music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
Opening night on Oct. 6 will be the first performance at the hall since closing March 13, 2020.
Pianist Yuja Wang will perform Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in place of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with Nézet-Séguin, Carnegie said Thursday. The program also includes Valerie Coleman’s “Seven O’Clock Shout,” commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra to honor frontline workers and celebrate human connection; Iman Habibi’s “Jeder Baum spricht” on climate crisis; and Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. The concert will be broadcast on radio worldwide.
The Beethoven cycle continues on Oct. 20 (Nos. 4 and 6), Nov. 9 (Nos. 1, 7, and 8), Dec. 7 (Nos. 2 and 3) and Jan. 11 (No. 9).
Carnegie added several more programs to its schedule Thursday in what still amounts to a season of reduced performances from pre-pandemic levels. | www.wavy.com | Carnegie adjusts program for return, adds Beethoven cycle | https://www.wavy.com/entertainment-news/carnegie-adjusts-program-for-return-adds-beethoven-cycle/ |
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[
"Adam Reeder",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:52:56+00:00 | 2021-08-19 10:22:13 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Fcamping-outdoors-br%2Fsleeping-br%2Fthe-best-kids-sleeping-bag%2F.json | en | Consider getting a ground air mat or air mattress for under your child’s sleeping bag if they’re going to be camping. Sleeping on the hard ground, even in a cushy sleeping bag, can be uncomfortable.
BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.
Which kids’ sleeping bag is best?
Few things are more fun for kids than a slumber party or a camping trip. Whether they’re under a roof or under the stars, every kid deserves a comfortable sleeping bag to use when the occasion arises.
Kids’ sleeping bags may be rectangular or mummy-style, and they vary in their warmth, materials, and other features.
If it’s time to get your little one a new sleeping bag, continue reading our buying guide, which includes reviews of a few favorites at the end. Our top pick, the BuddyBagz Sleeping Bag and Travel Kit For Kids will keep your little one feeling safe, warm, and happy all night long.
Considerations when choosing a kids’ sleeping bag
Shape
Kids’ sleeping bags come in a few different shapes. Although some have pretty nontraditional shapes, the two most common are standard rectangle bags and what are called “mummy bags.”
Rectangular sleeping bags are spacious and comfortable. When unzipped, they fold out to a square flat shape and can function as a comforter. The roomier design can make these bags slightly less warm in colder climates.
Mummy bags fit more snugly against your child’s body, with a wide shoulder area that tapers to a narrower shape at the feet. These bags are warmer than rectangular models because they fit tightly next to your little one’s skin. Some kids, however, don’t like how restrictive mummy bags feel.
Warmth
Most kids’ sleeping bags will display a warmth rating somewhere on the label. They’re usually rated by the minimum temperature that the bag is recommended to sustain. These ratings aren’t the most useful because everyone feels cold at different temperatures. They are, however, a decent way to compare one bag to another.
Length
Know your child’s height before choosing a new sleeping bag for them. There should be at least 2 to 9 extra inches at the bottom in order for the sleeping bag to be comfortable for your child.
Material
Kids’ sleeping bags are made from a few different materials. Bag exteriors are often made from ripstop nylon, which is durable and warm. Others have dry loft exteriors, which are water-resistant and also relatively rugged. Interior linings are usually made from either polyester or nylon. Nylon liners are shiny and not very comfortable against the skin. Some liners are made from cotton, though this material traps moisture, which can be uncomfortable.
Features of a great kids’ sleeping bag
Shoulder baffle
A shoulder baffle is a shoulder-height drawstring that helps to conserve your child’s body heat. They’re sometimes included with kids’ mummy bags.
Baffle stitching
Baffle stitching is a layer of vertical or horizontal stitching that is intended to keep the bag’s filling from clumping. This keeps the bag consistently warm throughout, rather than having a few small “cold spots.”
Hood
Kids’ sleeping bags that have hoods help your child stay warm by keeping all of the body heat, including that from the head, from escaping the bag. Hoods can be found on both rectangular and mummy bags.
How much you can expect to spend on a sleeping bag for kids
Most kids’ sleeping bags cost between $10-$60. For $10, kids’ sleeping bags are primarily rectangular designs, only for indoor use. If you spend $40 for a sleeping bag, you can get either a rectangular or mummy bag for indoor or outdoor use. For around $60, kids’ sleeping bags are premium bags with the warmest filling and shoulder baffles.
Kids’ sleeping bag FAQ
Q. What’s the best way to store a kids’ sleeping bag?
A. Most kids’ sleeping bags come with their own storage bag. You should store the sleeping bag in the driest place possible, away from sunlight. Moisture can cause mildew and mold if left for a long time. Don’t pack the sleeping bag too tightly, or it will lose loft.
Q. Do kids’ sleeping bags come with interesting and silly designs?
A. Yes. If you want your kids to enjoy looking at their sleeping bag, you can easily find one with animals, monsters, or other whimsical designs on the inside and outside.
Kids’ sleeping bags we recommend
Best of the best kids’ sleeping bag
BuddyBagz’ Sleeping Bag & Travel Kit For Kids
Our take: More than just a sleeping bag — it’s an entire overnight kit.
What we like: Included night light, pillow, and stuffed friend for your child. It’s 62 inches long, so it’s big enough for larger kids.
What we dislike: Not warm enough for camping. Best for indoor use.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Best bang for your buck kids’ sleeping bag
Wenzel’s Moose Boys/Girls 40º Sleeping Bag
Our take: Thick and comfy enough for almost any sleeping situation.
What we like: Has nonallergenic fill material. Comes in blue or pink. Double-sided zipper makes “self-zipping” easy for kids.
What we dislike: Some users reported difficulty with the zipper.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Kids’ sleeping bag worth checking out
Teton Sports’ Celsius Junior Kids Sleeping Bag
Our take: Lightweight and comfortable option with a stylish finish.
What we like: Fits over the top of the head for extra warmth. Machine washable. Durable construction.
What we dislike: Some felt the lining was too thin.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Adam Reeder writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | www.wavy.com | The best kids’ sleeping bag | https://www.wavy.com/reviews/br/camping-outdoors-br/sleeping-br/the-best-kids-sleeping-bag/ |
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[
"Tali Arbel",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:49:35+00:00 | 2021-08-19 20:26:50 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Ftechnology%2Fonlyfans-website-to-ban-sexually-explicit-content%2F.json | en | This photo shows a phone app for OnlyFans, a site where fans pay creators for their photos and videos, Thursday Aug. 19, 2021. A spokesperson says the site will ban “sexually explicit” starting Oct. 1 after requests from banking partners. (AP Photo/Tali Arbel)
OnlyFans, a site where fans pay creators for their photos and videos, is planning to ban “sexually explicit” content.
The ban will start Oct. 1 and is the result of requests from banking partners and companies that handle financial transactions, a spokesperson said.
Still, nudity is OK if it’s “consistent” with the company’s policy. It’s not clear what that policy is, and the company did not reply to questions. OnlyFans will be sharing more information in “coming days.”
OnlyFans has become famous as a space for celebrities to interact with people on a personal level, as well as a place where sex workers can post and get paid in a relatively safe manner.
It’s not available as an app via the Apple and Google stores, which ban pornography. OnlyFans has tried to distance itself from its association with porn, recently announcing an OFTV streaming app, which is available for download from the major tech platforms, and features content around categories like fitness, cooking, comedy and music.
OnlyFans says it has 130 million users and 2 million creators who have collectively earned $5 billion.
Bloomberg was first to report the news. | www.wavy.com | OnlyFans website to ban ‘sexually explicit’ content | https://www.wavy.com/news/technology/onlyfans-website-to-ban-sexually-explicit-content/ |
||||||
[
"Vladimir Isachenkov",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:51:29+00:00 | 2021-08-19 06:35:46 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Frussia-was-ready-for-talibans-win-due-to-longtime-contacts%2F.json | en | FILE – In this Thursday, July 12, 2018 file photo, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, center, poses for a photo with the participants of the conference on Afghanistan bringing together representatives of the Afghan authorities and the Taliban in Moscow, Russia. The Taliban’s lightning takeover of Afghanistan has come as no shock to Russia, which has worked methodically for years to lay the groundwork for future relations with the group it still officially considers a terrorist organization. Moscow, which fought a 10-year war in Afghanistan that ended with Soviet troops’ withdrawal in 1989, has made a comeback as an influential power broker in international talks on Afghanistan in recent years. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
MOSCOW (AP) — When the Taliban swept over Afghanistan, Russia was ready for the rapid developments after working methodically for years to lay the groundwork for relations with the group that it still officially considers a terrorist organization.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized this week that Moscow was “in no rush” to recognize the Taliban as the new rulers of Afghanistan, but he added there were “encouraging signals” of their readiness to let other political forces join the government and allow girls into schools.
The Taliban was added to the Russian list of terrorist organizations in 2003, and Moscow has not yet moved to remove the group from the list. Any contact with such groups is punishable under Russian law, but the Foreign Ministry has responded to questions about the seeming contradiction by saying that its exchanges with the Taliban are essential for international efforts to stabilize Afghanistan.
Unlike many other countries, Russia said it wouldn’t evacuate its embassy in Kabul, and its ambassador quickly met with the Taliban for what he described as “constructive” talks after they took over the capital.
The Soviet Union fought a 10-year war in Afghanistan that ended with its troops withdrawing in 1989. Since then, Moscow has made a comeback as an influential power broker in international talks on Afghanistan. It has worked continuously to cultivate ties with the Taliban, hosting their representatives for a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings.
“We have maintained contacts with the Taliban for the last seven years, discussing many issues,” Kremlin envoy on Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov said earlier this week. “We saw them as a force that will play a leading role in Afghanistan in the future even if it doesn’t take all power. All those factors, along with guarantees given to us by the Taliban’s top leaders, give us reason for a calm view of the latest developments, although we remain vigilant.”
A month before Taliban militants unleashed their offensive that ended with the seizure of Kabul, their delegation visited Moscow to offer assurances that they wouldn’t threaten the interests of Russia and its ex-Soviet allies in Central Asia — a sign that they consider ties with Russia a priority.
Taliban spokesman Mohammad Sohail Shaheen said during a visit last month to the Russian capital that “we won’t allow anyone to use the Afghan territory to attack Russia or neighboring countries,” noting that “we have very good relations with Russia.”
Russian diplomats say they trust the group’s assurances, noting the Taliban’s focus on fighting the Islamic State group, which Moscow sees as the main threat from Afghanistan. Moscow also has hailed the Taliban’s pledge to combat drug trafficking and stem the flow of drugs from Afghanistan via Central Asia.
Russian ambassador to Kabul, Dmitry Zhirnov, praised the Taliban as “reasonable guys” following a “positive and constructive meeting” this week. He added that the Taliban guaranteed the embassy’s security.
“Russian diplomats are doing all they can to consolidate the contacts they have established with the Taliban,” Moscow-based analyst Alexei Makarkin said in a commentary. “Russian representatives cast the Taliban as moderate and responsible, acting as their advocates in the public sphere.”
He argued that the Taliban might not try to project their influence to the ex-Soviet Central Asian nations for now, but that could change later after securing a hold on Afghanistan.
“The Taliban’s leaders will be unlikely to launch an expansion now, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t take such steps in the future,” Makarkin observed, noting that multiple factions inside the Taliban may have varying goals.
Despite the Taliban’s assurances, Russia has held a series of joint war games with its allies in Central Asia in recent weeks to underline its pledge to help them fend off any possible security threats from Afghanistan. The latest of those drills began in Tajikistan this week.
While cultivating contacts with Taliban officials, Russia will be unlikely to move quickly to formally recognize their government, at least not until the group is removed from the United Nations list of terrorist organizations.
“It’s premature to say that we would make any unilateral political steps,” Lavrov said this week.
Kabulov, the Kremlin envoy, emphasized that Moscow’s recognition of the Taliban will hinge on “whether they will govern the country in a responsible way in the near future, and proceeding from that, the Russian leadership will make the necessary conclusions.” He added that Russia would only take the Taliban off its list of terrorist organizations after the U.N. Security Council decides to remove it from its terror list.
Russian diplomats argued that the U.S.-led campaign in Afghanistan helped change Afghan perceptions of the Soviet invasion and made many local leaders willing to accept Moscow’s mediation.
When Washington went to war with the Taliban after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks for harboring Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida, Moscow offered a helping hand, welcoming U.S. bases in the Central Asian nations of the former Soviet Union to support operations in Afghanistan. But as U.S.-Russia relations have grown increasingly strained, Russia grew more critical.
Still, Moscow and Washington have continued to coordinate their diplomatic moves on Afghanistan, and Russian officials have angrily rejected the allegations last year that Moscow paid the Taliban to kill U.S. soldiers.
The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979, driven by fears that the U.S. was trying to establish a foothold there after losing Iran to the Islamic Revolution. The Soviet plans for a quick campaign bogged down in fierce resistance by the U.S.-backed guerrillas, known as mujahedeen, or holy warriors. The Soviet Union lost more than 15,000 troops, according to official count, while estimates of civilian casualties in that period have varied widely, from more than 500,000 up to 2 million.
Many in Russia gloated over the quick collapse of the U.S.-backed Afghan government, pointing out that President Mohammad Najibullah’s communist government held on for three years after the Soviet withdrawal until Moscow’s aid completely halted following the 1991 collapse of the USSR.
“The regime created by the Americans tumbled down even before they left, that’s a principal difference,” Kabulov said, adding that he and others in Russia didn’t expect such a fast meltdown.
Franz Klintsevich, the first deputy head of the defense and security committee in the lower house of Russian parliament, told The Associated Press that the U.S. has left behind huge arsenals of weapons that fell into the Taliban’s hands.
“Who would make such gifts to terrorists after fighting them for 20 years?” said Klintsevich, a veteran of the Soviet war in Afghanistan.
___
Harriet Morris in Moscow contributed. | www.wavy.com | Russia was ready for Taliban’s win due to longtime contacts | https://www.wavy.com/news/world/russia-was-ready-for-talibans-win-due-to-longtime-contacts/ |
||||||
[
"Larry Lage",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:55:10+00:00 | 2021-08-19 21:31:08 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fsports%2Fcabrera-stuck-at-499-angels-rally-to-beat-tigers-13-10%2F.json | en | Los Angeles Angels’ Max Stassi rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Detroit Tigers in the eighth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
DETROIT (AP) — Shohei Ohtani followed up a spectacular performance with another good one, helping the Los Angeles Angels match a franchise record with an eight-run comeback in a 13-10 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday.
“They never let up,” manager Joe Maddon said. “They never let down.”
Max Stassi hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning and the Angels added a couple more runs, sealing a victory after trailing 10-2 to equal the deficit they overcame Aug. 29, 1986, also against Detroit.
Ohtani was 2 of 3 with two runs, two walks and an RBI, a day after hitting his 40th homer and pitching eight solid innings in a 3-1 win.
“This loss stings,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “This is a bad loss. We were in control of the game. We let this one get away from us.”
Miguel Cabrera also missed another opportunity to hit his 500th home run.
He had multiple hits for the first time since Aug. 11, when he hit homer No. 499. He grounded out with a chance to reach the milestone and pull the Tigers within a run in the eighth, finishing the day 2 of 5.
Cabrera did drive in in four runs to help Detroit open a 10-2 lead after five innings.
Mike Mayers (4-4) pitched a perfect seventh and Austin Warren earned his first save with two perfect innings.
Michael Fulmer (5-5) took the loss, giving up three runs on three hits and a walk in the pivotal eighth inning.
While Cabrera could not clear the fence for the 500th time in his career, teammates Zack Short, Jeimer Candelario and Willi Castro hit solo homers.
Jonathan Schoop’s RBI double — his third hit — gave the Tigers an eight-run cushion that wasn’t enough.
Los Angeles scored six runs — two on one of Brandon Marsh’s two triples — in the sixth inning and added one in the seventh to cut it to 10-9.
Maddon said it was great to see Marsh run with his long hair flowing behind him around the bases.
“It’s like watching Fabio hit a triple,” he joked.
After Stassi’s line drive over the left-field wall put Los Angeles ahead 11-9, Ohtani had a sacrifice fly in the eighth to give the Angels a two-run lead.
Marsh said it was the biggest comeback of his career at any level of baseball.
“A moment to remember forever,” he said.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Ohtani hit his 40th homer Wednesday — on a night he was also dominant on the mound — and Maddon said the Comerica Park crowd cheered louder for him than fans in any city have for the superstar.
“What they saw him do is highly unusual and they may not see it for a long, long time again,” Maddon said. “It’s not surprising that the people here would do that. They were raised by Ernie Harwell.”
YOU’RE OUT
Hinch was ejected in the fifth inning for arguing about about a replay, which ruled catcher’s interference on Dustin Garneau during Justin Upton’s at-bat.
“It’s unacceptable,” Hinch said. “I think it was handled wrong.”
Joe Jimenez was ejected the next inning when home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott didn’t like what the right-hander said as bench coach George Lombard pulled him for walking two straight with the bases loaded.
Jimenez gave up three hits on one walk and two walks without getting an out.
HONORED
Bill Freehan, an 11-time All-Star catcher with the Detroit Tigers and key player on the 1968 World Series championship team, died Thursday at age 79. Video and photos of him were displayed on the videoboard and there was a moment of silence before the game.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: Patrick Sandoval (back) went on the 10-day injured list Wednesday and the next morning, manager Joe Maddon didn’t sound as if he expects the LHP back soon.
“He’s not going to be pitching for a while,” Maddon said.
Tigers: C Eric Haase (abdominal strain) went on the 10-day injured list and OF Daz Cameron came off the list to take the roster spot.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Jaime Barria (2-1) was scheduled to start Friday at Cleveland, the third of five cities in a 10-game road trip that will include a game against the Indians on Sunday in the Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Tigers: LHP Tyler Alexander (2-2) was expected to be on the mound Friday night at Toronto, where the Blue Jays’ probable starter is LHP Robbie Ray (9-5). Detroit will also play a two-game series at St. Louis.
___
Follow Larry Lage at https://twitter.com/larrylage
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | www.wavy.com | Cabrera stuck at 499; Angels rally to beat Tigers 13-10 | https://www.wavy.com/sports/cabrera-stuck-at-499-angels-rally-to-beat-tigers-13-10/ |
||||||
[
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:55:57+00:00 | 2021-08-19 21:14:59 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fsports%2Fmedvedev-advances-to-western-southern-open-quarterfinals%2F.json | en | Grigor Dimitrov, of Bulgaria, returns to Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, during the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
MASON, Ohio (AP) — No Novak, no Roger, no Rafa doesn’t mean winning his second Western & Southern Open championship will be easy for top-seeded Daniil Medvedev.
He’s just making it look that way.
Medvedev, the 2019 champion and last year’s runner-up to Novak Djokovic, advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open tune-up event Thursday with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Grigor Dimitrov.
“It was definitely a great level of tennis,” Medvedev said. “It was pretty hot for both of us. I saw Grigor struggling, so I figured that’s how it is. It’s the same for everybody. Our bodies are getting more used to the heat.”
Second-ranked Naomi Osaka wasn’t as lucky. In the second match of her first tour appearance since late May, Osaka sprayed balls all over the court in a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 loss to No. 76 Jil Teichmann.
Osaka repeatedly punched her left thigh with her left wrist and talked loudly to herself, trying to get herself going, but she was impassive as she shook hands at the net with the giddy Teichmann.
Top-ranked Ash Barty rolled through the first 10 games of her match with defending champion Victoria Azarenka in a 6-0, 6-2 win to reach the women’s quarterfinals.
“I think sometimes the scoreline in tennis can fool you,” Barty said. “Though it seemed like a quite convincing scoreline in the match, each and every game had crucial poits and I was able to win most of those.”
Former tournament women’s champion Karolina Pliskova advanced with a 6-4, 7-6 (5) win over Jessica Pegula.. Olympic champion and third-seeded Alexander Zverev also moved on, beating Guido Pella 6-2, 6-3, while Roland Garros-finalist and second-seeded Stefano Tsitsipas was pushed by Lorenzo Sonego to three sets before prevailing, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
Medvedev bounced back up after a nasty fall early in the second set and went on to close out the win.
“You can’t see this on video, but my racket got between my legs and hit the back of my calf,” Medvedev said. “I don’t know how that happens. I actually have a bruise on my calf. A bruise is a bruise. It’s nothing serious.”
The second-ranked Russian, the winner last week in Toronto, won when Dimitrov double-faulted on match point. Medvedev has been on the court for only 2 hours, 28 minutes while winning his first two matches in straight sets after a first-round bye.
Medvedev is the first player not named Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Andy Murray to crack the top two since July 18, 2005. Injuries and other issues kept Djokovic, Federer and Nadal from competing this year.
While his matches have been short, Medvedev feels winning will go a long way.
“The more matches I can win in these two tournaments that are similar to New York, the more confidence you have,” he said. “Confidence is the big key. It’s good coming there knowing that you’re capable of playing good. Now, I know it’s possible. A Grand Slam is a Grand Slam. They’re tough. Opponents want to beat you. You hope you show your best tennis.”
___
More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | www.wavy.com | Medvedev advances to W&S quarterfinals; Osaka knocked out | https://www.wavy.com/sports/medvedev-advances-to-western-southern-open-quarterfinals/ |
||||||
[
"Niko Price",
"Associated Press",
"Nathan Crawford",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Jason Marks"
] | 2021-08-20 01:49:55+00:00 | 2021-08-19 14:24:49 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fanalysis-twin-tragedies-and-the-strings-that-pull-them%2F.json | en | FILE – In this Aug. 16, 2021 file photo a police officer tries to bring order as earthquake victims scramble for a handout of rice at a food distribution place in Les Cayes, Haiti. Twin tragedies on opposite sides of the world are piling misery on people that have seen far more than their share. In Haiti, yet another earthquake and yet another storm struck a country exceptionally ill-equipped to handle either.(AP Photo/Joseph Odelyn, File)
LONDON (AP) — Twin tragedies on opposite sides of the world are piling misery on people who have seen far more than their share.
In Afghanistan, a group of gunmen known for sadistic tyranny rocketed back into power after 20 years as Western and Afghan leaders walked away with a sad shrug. In Haiti, yet another earthquake and yet another storm struck a country exceptionally ill-equipped to handle either.
On the face of it, little links the two catastrophes. One can easily be blamed on geopolitics and an unwinnable war, the other on motion in the Earth’s crust and troposphere.
And yet these assaults on the usual suspects are deeply connected. They are unfolding in two nations that, as the planet strains with stressors both natural and willful, sit at the fault lines of everything that the 21st-century world struggles to control.
Once more, some of the world’s least fortunate people have become even less so. And whether the catalyst is war or weather, the suffering in both places is rooted in two all-too-human syndromes: poverty and corruption.
That’s no accident. Both Afghanistan and Haiti have been invaded and occupied by Western powers for great parts of their histories, and both have suffered under corrupt governments propped up by the self-interest of Western nations. The United States, for one, has done both things to both countries.
As much as the West would like to ignore the fact, both countries are victims of power dynamics and unabashed greed that have stacked the cards against them. The fact that neither has a functioning government able to help them in their time of need is a direct consequence of “Great Games” played by other nations for money and influence.
This predicament should sound a warning siren in a world ravaged by extreme weather, viral infection, religious intolerance and political opportunism. Fundamental inequalities in the availability of food, water, medicine and education mean that people unlucky enough to be born outside of privilege have few opportunities to change their place in the world.
Haiti embodies this. Afghanistan, too. The most vulnerable are usually the first to fall, and falling they are.
In Afghanistan — invaded by everyone from the Greeks and the Mongols to the Soviet Union and a US-led NATO operation — they fell across the past half century. They fell when the Soviets came in 1979, when the Taliban first came in 1996, when the U.S.-led coalition displaced them in 2001 and again when they returned this week.
In Haiti — which endured a two-decade U.S. occupation from 1915 and U.S.-backed dictators for most of its history since — they continue to fall under crushing poverty, political chaos and natural disasters, including a devastating 2010 earthquake.
Can these well-carved paths be altered? Is there a chance that people in places like Afghanistan and Haiti can forge a different way forward? Many on the ground doubt it.
In a lifetime of reporting in some of the world’s least favored nations, I have come across hope in the unlikeliest of places: in El Salvador, where three boys took a break from picking through a landfill to wrestle and laugh; in Iraq, where a merchant marine captain dipped in nitric acid for his political opinions dreamed of telling his story in court; in southern Mexico, where a young man sneaking northward hoped to find out why his father had died in a Texas detention center (suicide, he would later learn).
But hope has been especially elusive in these two places, whose new disasters seem to confirm people’s lack of faith that somehow, someday, things might get better.
In Afghanistan in 2002, after the 9/11 attacks and the tectonic shifts they brought to a nation already accustomed to a generation of war, 12-year-old Hamida was picking through rotting vegetables by the roadside to feed her 10-member family.
“Under the Taliban, under the new government, it’s the same,” she whispered, hiding her face behind a mud-caked shawl. “I can’t imagine anything will ever change.”
In Haiti in 1998, on the heels of a hurricane that had devastated large parts of the country, a young man in a squatter camp saw little reason to dream of anything better.
″Every day I wake up and put water on my face. I look in the mirror, and I see nothing,″ said Fritzner Midil, then 24.
At the time, I found Hamida’s resignation and Midil’s despondency hard to bear. Surely, I thought, things can only get better from here.
Two decades later, Haiti has suffered more hurricanes, more earthquakes, and more U.S. intervention. The Taliban have reversed their 2001 defeat, sweeping into Kabul triumphantly this week with a new generation of young militants at their resurgent core and a promise of inclusivity that no one is certain they will keep.
And I wonder what Hamida and Midil think of all this. I wonder whether Hamida went to school, started a family, built a life. And Midil? I wonder what he sees in the mirror today.
___
Niko Price, a London-based executive producer for AP’s global video service, has reported from 49 countries, including Afghanistan and Haiti. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NikoPrice | www.wavy.com | Analysis: Twin tragedies, and the strings that pull them | https://www.wavy.com/news/world/analysis-twin-tragedies-and-the-strings-that-pull-them/ |
||||||
[
"Sian Babish",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:52:23+00:00 | 2021-08-19 17:28:59 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Fapparel-br%2Fshirts-tops-br%2Fbest-mens-big-and-tall-short-sleeve-shirts%2F.json | en | If the short-sleeve shirts you’re replacing still have some life in them, consider donating them to a local charity or shelter.
BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.
Which men’s big and tall short-sleeve shirts are best?
Short-sleeve shirts are wardrobe essentials that match most bottoms, from shorts to jeans. Because they’re versatile and comfortable, it’s easy to see why they’re considered go-to pieces.
There are four main styles of short-sleeve shirts, including tees, polos, button-downs and athletic tops. It’s smart to have more than one of each style so you can create a wealth of looks with just a few pieces. Begin building your new wardrobe with Under Armour Men’s Tech 2.0 Short-Sleeve Shirt, a lightweight athletic top that’s suitable for layering.
What to know before you buy a men’s big and tall short-sleeve shirt
Big and tall sizing
Big and tall sizing ranges from 3XL to 6XL, and many brands now offer extended sizes above 7XL. However, there’s a bit more to big and tall sizing than these sizes.
Big sizes, such as 3X or 4X, have wider cuts across the chest, torso and shoulders. These cuts can be characterized as relaxed or boxy.
Tall sizes, like 3XL or 4XL, feature notably longer hemlines to fit wearers 6 feet, 2 inches and taller. While these pieces are longer, they’re not as widely cut as big sizes.
Big and tall sizes, such as 3XLT or 4XLT, have both wider cuts and longer hemlines.
How to find a correctly fitted short-sleeve shirt
To find the right fit of short-sleeve shirt, there are a few things to consider:
Arms: When you raise your arms in front of you, the sleeves shouldn’t pull against your arms. While they may feel a little snug, they shouldn’t feel too tight or dig into skin.
Shoulders: Shoulder seams should follow your body’s natural shape. If they appear to fall short, the shirt won’t fall right on your torso. Conversely, if they appear too long or loose, the shirt may appear too baggy.
Base layers: Most short-sleeve shirts should have enough room to accommodate a thin base layer, like a T-shirt or undershirt.
What to look for in a quality men’s big and tall short-sleeve shirt
Material
Cotton remains the top material for short-sleeve shirts. It’s breathable, lightweight and easy to wash, but it’s prone to fading or shrinking. Instead, many cotton shirts are now blended with stretch materials, like polyester or spandex, to help retain their color and shape.
Many short-sleeve shirts are made entirely with synthetic materials, including polyester, spandex, nylon and lycra. They’re durable and hold up to heavy wash and wear, but eventually, their elasticity deteriorates.
There are a few bamboo short-sleeve shirts on the market. They’re known for their softness, plus they have natural hypoallergenic and wicking properties. Bamboo shirts are harder to find, and many of these styles are more expensive than cotton or synthetic shirts.
Pockets
Pockets are found on some short-sleeve shirts, but they’re often more decorative than functional. Take a classic T-shirt with a pocket as an example: because it’s fairly soft and lightweight, adding items to the pocket will only weigh down the shirt.
However, pockets on some short-sleeve styles can be useful. Many utility shirts, which have structured designs, can hold lightweight items like cash or earbuds. These pockets may have zipper or Velcro closures to secure items as well.
Wick-away
Wick-away material sweeps moisture and sweat from the body to keep you cool. It’s a sought-after feature in athletic tops, though many polos, T-shirts and button-down styles are now made with wick-away material as well. Many wick-away shirts also have odor-trapping properties.
How much you can expect to spend on a men’s big and tall short-sleeve shirt
Cotton tees and polos cost $30 and below, but the quality is hit or miss the further you dip below $20. Short-sleeve shirts made by well-known brands cost $35-$50. Designer short-sleeve shirts run as high as $85-$100.
Men’s big and tall short-sleeve shirt FAQ
What is an “no-iron” shirt?
A. “No-iron” shirts are made with wrinkle-resistant materials that don’t require ironing or steaming. Most of these are dryer-safe, and tumble dry low gets out the majority of kinks or wrinkles. These styles are considered convenient for travel since they don’t require ironing once you reach your destination.
If I’m sticking to neutral basics, what colors should I get for short-sleeve shirts?
A. At the very least, choose shirts that are black, navy, pale blue, white or gray. Some people feel tan, light pink and olive are neutral colors worth buying. You can also consider shirts with neutral patterns, such as pinstripes or color blocking.
What’s the best men’s big and tall short-sleeve shirt to buy?
Top men’s big and tall short-sleeve shirt
Under Armour Men’s Tech 2.0 Short-Sleeve Shirt
What you need to know: A customer favorite, this lightweight active tee is made with wick-away material.
What you’ll love: Material is soft and cool to the touch, plus it’s machine-washable for easy care. Shoulder seams allow for uninhibited range of motion. Available in dozens of colors.
What you should consider: Some buyers felt the sleeves had a narrow cut.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Kohl’s and Macy’s
Top men’s big and tall short-sleeve shirt for the money
Amazon Essentials by DXL Men’s Big and Tall Cotton Pique Polo Shirt
What you need to know: This classic cotton polo is made for every day or business-casual wear.
What you’ll love: Extra-long hemline with a comfortable, relaxed fit. Ribbed sleeves give the polo a bit of structure. The collar stays flat and retains its shape through wash and wear.
What you should consider: Since it’s 100% cotton, it’s prone to shrinking.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Columbia PFG Bahama II Short-Sleeve Shirt
What you need to know: Made by a much-loved brand, this utility shirt is suitable for active outdoor wear.
What you’ll love: Boxy, spacious cut leaves room for base layers like undershirts or tees. Made with OmniShade material that blocks out UVA and UVB rays. Pockets are actually functional.
What you should consider: Shirt is prone to wrinkling and may require ironing.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Sian Babish writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | www.wavy.com | Best men’s big and tall short sleeve shirts | https://www.wavy.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/shirts-tops-br/best-mens-big-and-tall-short-sleeve-shirts/ |
||||||
[
"Mark Kennedy",
"Associated Press",
"Nathan Crawford",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Jason Marks"
] | 2021-08-20 01:46:15+00:00 | 2021-08-19 13:04:17 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fentertainment-news%2Frolling-stones-honor-album-tattoo-you-with-9-new-tunes%2F.json | en | FILE – In this Aug. 5, 2019 file photo, Ronnie Wood, from left, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones perform in East Rutherford, N.J. The Rolling Stones are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their album “Tattoo You” with a remastered collection that includes nine previously unreleased tracks. The newly-remastered 11-track album is out on Oct. 22. (Photo by Greg Allen/Invision/AP, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — The Rolling Stones are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their album “Tattoo You” with a remastered collection that includes nine previously unreleased tracks.
The newly-remastered 11-track album is out on Oct. 22, including songs “Hang Fire,” “Waiting on a Friend” and the opening track, “Start Me Up.” The deluxe formats will also include the albums “Lost & Found: Rarities” and the 26-track “Still Life: Wembley Stadium 1982.”
The “Lost & Found: Rarities” album includes the original “Living in the Heart of Love,” a version of Jimmy Reed’s “Shame, Shame, Shame,” a cover of Dobie Gray’s soulful “Drift Away” and a reggae-tinged version of “Start Me Up.”
The release comes as the rockers prepare 13 new dates on their “No Filter” tour in the United States. The new itinerary starts Sept. 26 in St. Louis and extends into November.
Released on Aug. 24, 1981, “Tattoo You” was a collage of songs from the band’s sessions stretching back several years.
The Grammy-nominated “Tattoo You” remains the last Stones album to hit No.1 in the U.S. charts, peaking at the top spot on Sept. 19 and remaining there for some 10 weeks.
The Rolling Stones received their first Grammy nomination for album of the year for “Some Girls” in 1978. The band’s albums also include “Beggars Banquet” in 1968, “Let It Bleed” in 1969, “Sticky Fingers” in 1971 and “Exile on Main St.” in 1972. Their singles “Honky Tonk Women” and ”(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. | www.wavy.com | Rolling Stones honor album ‘Tattoo You’ with 9 new tunes | https://www.wavy.com/entertainment-news/rolling-stones-honor-album-tattoo-you-with-9-new-tunes/ |
||||||
[
"Jenna Fryer",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:55:31+00:00 | 2021-08-19 15:32:41 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fsports%2Findycar-to-return-to-iowa-speedway-for-2022-doubleheader%2F.json | en | Pato O’Ward, of Mexico, drives through the second turn during the IndyCar auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
IndyCar will return next season to Iowa Speedway, a short oval track beloved by fans and drivers that had fallen off the schedule after 14 years.
The track in Newton will host a doubleheader next July in a deal brokered between IndyCar Series owner Roger Penske, team owner Bobby Rahal and grocery chain Hy-Vee, which is based in Iowa. The company has been increasing its presence in IndyCar as an occasional sponsor for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
Hy-Vee was named the entitlement sponsor of the July 22-23 races in Thursday’s announcement attended by Penske, Rahal and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.
“With our strong connection to local communities and involvement in the state, we plan to host an event that will receive national attention and make Newton an annual destination for racing fans,” said Randy Edeker, chairman of Hy-Vee.
Edeker also said Hy-Vee will be a full-time sponsor for RLL next season. The team has been trying to expand to three cars and has used Santino Ferrucci in five races and debuted Christian Lundgaard last week on the road course at Indianapolis.
He cited Formula One’s growth in the U.S. in the 16-to-35 age demographic, and said he thinks IndyCar can gain similar ground under Penske.
“With Penske taking ownership, they have a lot of plans, lot of strategy to mimic some of that and bring it into the sport of racing,” Edeker said. “From a company standpoint that’s a demographic we have to do well with, need to do better with.”
Iowa Speedway opened in 2006 and IndyCar added the track to its schedule the next season. IndyCar ran 15 races at the “The Fastest Short Track on the Planet,” including a doubleheader last year that Penske Entertainment promoted as the series tried to salvage its season during the pandemic.
The track, which was bought by NASCAR in 2013, dropped off the IndyCar schedule this year and likely would not have returned without a title sponsor. NASCAR pulled the Xfinity and Truck Series races from Iowa after the 2019 season and only sent its minor league ARCA Series to Newton the last two years.
Edeker said 4,000 seats will be added to Iowa Speedway before the IndyCar event next season.
Bobby Rahal has been persistent in his push to get Iowa back on the IndyCar schedule as a much-needed oval for a series heavy on road and street courses. IndyCar has just four races on three ovals this year, with the final one coming up Saturday night outside St. Louis.
“One of my main concerns when we took over the sport was we need more ovals,” Penske said. “I think that wheel-to-wheel racing makes it better. It’s just not a buy and ride. We have so much interest today without buying a ride to come to (the Indianapolis 500). We want you to be there because you earned it, because you’re a great driver and this is a great part of that piece of the puzzle that I’ve been looking for.
“To have two races and have it supported by Hy-Vee: It’s a home run on both sides.”
The 2022 doubleheader will be part of a festival-type weekend at the track located about 30 miles east of Des Moines.
The 0.875-mile, D-shaped oval has been a playground for Penske drivers. Team Penske won five of the last six IndyCar races at the track. Josef Newgarden is a three-time winner at Iowa.
IndyCar has yet to announce its entire 2022 schedule but Indianapolis, Gateway, Iowa and Texas should account for at least five oval events next year.
Penske said he hoped to have a complete schedule in the next 30 days as IndyCar figures out programming with NBC Sports. A record 13 races will be broadcast next year as part of IndyCar’s new three-year contract with the network.
“This was an important piece of it, the Iowa contract,” Penske said. “Our media contract with NBC has got to be put out because we’ve got both network and cable so we want to be sure we put those to bed.”
Penske did not reveal how many ovals he expects to have on the schedule next year, but said IndyCar will run “somewhere between 15 and 18 (races) for sure.”
___
Associated Press Writer David Pitt in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report.
___
More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/apf-AutoRacing and https://twitter.com/AP | www.wavy.com | IndyCar to return to Iowa Speedway for 2022 doubleheader | https://www.wavy.com/sports/indycar-to-return-to-iowa-speedway-for-2022-doubleheader/ |
||||||
[
"Allen Foster",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:52:43+00:00 | 2021-08-19 17:27:49 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Fcamping-outdoors-br%2Fgear-br%2Fbest-uv-umbrella%2F.json | en | Color has a direct impact on UV radiation — the darker and more vibrant the color, the more radiation it will absorb. For example, a black shirt will absorb more radiation than a white shirt, and a vibrant red shirt will absorb more radiation than a pastel pink shirt.
Which UV umbrella is best?
Simple things can make our life not only better, but safer as well. The right UV umbrella, for instance, can offer protection from up to 98% of the sun’s damaging rays.
If you’re in the market for a UV umbrella, you’ll probably want something that also offers protection from the rain and is manufactured to withstand wind. LifeTek’s Windproof Travel Umbrella features a convenient push-button operation that allows you to open or close the umbrella at the touch of a button.
What to know before you buy a UV umbrella
Who needs a UV umbrella?
Unprotected exposure to UVA and UVB rays can damage the DNA in skin cells, which can result in premature aging as well as genetic defects and mutations. These rays can do the same thing to the eyes.
A UV umbrella is an umbrella specifically designed to keep the sun’s damaging rays from reaching your skin and eyes. Anyone who’s in the sun for prolonged periods of time can benefit from a UV protection umbrella. This includes golfers, sightseers, sports fans, beachgoers, gardeners, commuters, outdoor vendors, walkers, people with sun-related medical conditions and more. Whatever time of year, whether it’s overcast or cold, if you’ll be outside for prolonged periods of time, using a UV umbrella is a wise choice.
SPF vs. UPF
When you’re picking out sunscreen, you need to understand SPF ratings. SPF stands for sun protection factor and it’s based on how much time it takes the skin to redden when exposed to UV rays. If you typically burn in 10 minutes and you’re wearing properly applied sunscreen with an SPF of 15, it means, in general, it will take you 15 times longer to burn.
A UPF rating, on the other hand, applies to fabrics and denotes how much harmful radiation gets through. UPF stands for ultraviolet protection factor. A UV beach umbrella with a UPF of 50 means only one-fiftieth of the sun’s harmful rays can get through. In other words, that umbrella will block up to 98% of the sun’s harmful UV rays.
What to look for in a quality UV umbrella
Level of protection
In order to qualify for The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation, a UV umbrella must have a minimum UPF of 30. A UV umbrella that offers a UPF of 30-49 is considered very good protection. A UV umbrella that offers a UPF of 50+ is considered excellent protection.
Size
If you’re using your UV umbrella for commuting, you’ll want a smaller, travel-size model that’s easier to bring aboard public transportation. If you’ll be lounging on the beach all day, you need a UV beach umbrella that offers greater coverage.
Waterproof
If you want to use your UV umbrella in inclement weather, purchase a model that’s waterproof — believe it or not, not all UV umbrellas provide protection from the rain.
Windproof
A UV umbrella that features vents or a double canopy is designed to allow gusts of air to pass through the umbrella without damaging it.
Handle design
The handle might not seem important, but since it’s what you hold, its design is crucial to your comfort. A soft rubber grip is the most comfortable, but some individuals prefer a C-shaped handle because it can be placed around the wrist, allowing you to keep your hands free while still holding the umbrella. Alternatively, you can purchase a UV umbrella with a clamp so you can attach it to a chair or bleachers and not have to worry about holding it at all.
Ease of opening and closing
A UV umbrella that’s difficult to open or close can be frustrating. Look for a UV umbrella that opens and closes with minimal effort — a push-button design is best, but this might not be available on larger UV umbrellas.
How much you can expect to spend on a UV umbrella
It’s possible to purchase a travel-size UV umbrella for as little as $15. If you’d like a model that’s windproof, waterproof and features durable construction, a top model may cost $50 or more, though most people can find a quality UV umbrella for roughly $25-$35.
UV umbrella FAQ
Do I need to wear sunscreen when using a UV umbrella?
A. While a UV umbrella does a great job of protecting you from overhead radiation, it’s possible for the sun’s damaging rays to be reflected up from the ground or in from the sides. This means for best protection, sunscreen is still recommended when using a UV umbrella.
How much radiation is reflected by different surfaces?
A. While we commonly think of water and sand as reflecting a great deal of UV radiation, those surfaces only reflect roughly 5% and up to 15% of the sun’s UV radiation, respectively. Concrete may reflect as much as 11%, while seafoam is typically estimated at reflecting 25% of the sun’s radiation. The worst surface is snow, which is capable of reflecting over 90% of the sun’s harmful rays.
What’s the best UV umbrella to buy?
Top UV umbrella
LifeTek Windproof Travel Umbrella
What you need to know: It’s hard to beat the push-button opening and closing convenience of this automated travel umbrella.
What you’ll love: This double-vented canopy travel umbrella is built tough. It offers a UPF 50+ rating, which blocks up to 98% of the sun’s harmful rays. The automatic open and close feature on this umbrella makes it effortless to use.
What you should consider: This is a travel umbrella, so the coverage area is a little smaller than other models.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top UV umbrella for the money
BAGAIL Reverse-Folding Umbrella
What you need to know: This cleverly designed reverse-folding umbrella is manufactured to keep the user dry when closing.
What you’ll love: Besides being affordable, this innovative umbrella has a number of user-friendly features such as a hands-free handle and a reverse-fold so water won’t drip down your arm when closing. It offers a UPF of 50+ and comes with a 1-year worry-free warranty.
What you should consider: When fully collapsed, this umbrella is still almost 32 inches long, which can be a little large for commuters.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Sport-Brella Versa-Brella
What you need to know: There’s a reason this model is called a Versa-Brella. It has five points of adjustability, making it one of the most versatile umbrellas on the market.
What you’ll love: This umbrella has a universal clamp that allows it to fit on either a round or square post up to 1.5 inches thick. It offers a UPF of 50+ and can be tilted, twirled or adjusted to any angle to provide shade. The pole is offset so the umbrella can more easily cover your legs while sitting down.
What you should consider: Because this model has five different places where it can bend or twist, it can be difficult to figure out the logistics needed to get the umbrella into the perfect position.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Allen Foster writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | www.wavy.com | Best UV umbrella | https://www.wavy.com/reviews/br/camping-outdoors-br/gear-br/best-uv-umbrella/ |
||||||
[
"David Allan Van",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:54:32+00:00 | 2021-08-19 12:58:38 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Ftoys-games-br%2Ftheme-toys-br%2Fbest-hot-wheels-toys%2F.json | en | Hot Wheels toys provide fun for kids and adults of all ages, and many of the racing, stunt and trick designs are truly fantastic.
Which Hot Wheels toys are best?
Fantastic racing tracks and jumps, fun tunnels and popular action figures are just a fragment of what Hot Wheels toy sets have to offer. You no longer have to get behind the wheel of your actual vehicle to experience the thrill as most Hot Wheels include die-cast metal toy cars popular with small children and adults alike. Actually, Hot Wheels cars feature custom, caricature and fantasy vehicles rather than small-scale models of production cars.
Whether you wish to add to your personal Hot Wheels collection or gift someone one of the most sought-after Hot Wheels toys, this guide will help you make the right choice. In particular, the Hot Wheels Criss Cross Crash Motorized Track Set is an excellent choice that enhances creativity skills and promises loads of fun.
What to know before you buy Hot Wheels toys
Hot Wheels toys
Mattel makes Hot Wheels toys for all age groups. Naturally, 3-year-olds will like different toys than kids age 6, 9 or 12, so check the recommended age range on the package. Hot Wheels also produces collector sets for serious enthusiasts of all ages.
Usage
Hot Wheels toys hold kids spellbound — kids will play with them for hours! However, if you are buying a set for a collector, look for sets made for display and include stands. It’s also preferable that they come in the original, individual packaging.
Space
Check the dimensions of all the track pieces, especially those with tall loops and towers that may not collapse for easy storage.
What to look for in quality Hot Wheels toys
Hot Wheels gives you a choice of many different types of toys, constantly adding new sets and collectibles.
Track sets
The designs of Hot Wheels track sets have become even more amazing over the years. The simple tracks of the past have evolved into fantastic loops, twists, jumps and flyovers. Some of the more complicated track sets will need help from adults to assemble properly for maximum enjoyment. Look for track sets that connect to other track sets so you can expand your collection and design your own unique layout.
Vehicles
Hot Wheels started with cars and now makes trucks, vans, military vehicles, airplanes and many more. Some of their most popular vehicles are monster trucks and exotic sports cars. Hot Wheels 2021 sets feature character- and film-based vehicles too, like Minecraft, Fast and Furious, Batman, Star Wars and Mario Kart toy vehicles.
Hot Wheels vehicles come as individual cars or in sets of various sizes. If you want an awesome surprise, take a look at the Hot Wheels 72 Count Random Case with an assortment of current issues and great cars of the past.
Storage
Hot Wheels sells many different kinds and sizes of cases for storing your cars. All are great ways to keep your cars organized and safe from damage. Some are simple storage bins or carrying cases, while others are designed to be toys too, and thus become part of the fun.
Vehicle collectors tend to opt for portable, see-through display cases, whereas those with bigger collections prefer wall-mounted cabinets to show off their cars and trucks.
How much you can expect to spend on Hot Wheels toys
Most Hot Wheels cars come in sets that cost from $1-$3 per car. Most Hot Wheels track sets cost between $20-$50. Sets with a price tag of over $50 are usually extreme designs, a dozen of which cost more than $100 and one amazing set that costs upwards of $500.
Hot Wheels toys FAQ
Do all Hot Wheels track sets need batteries?
A. Not all do, especially the smaller, simpler ones for younger kids. Long tracks and track sets with loops and jumps need to power the cars with batteries to reach the high speeds needed to handle all the jumps and loops. Most of them require D-cell batteries.
Are Hot Wheels track sets hard to put together?
A. A lot depends on the ability of the person doing the assembly and their ability to follow the assembly instructions. The track design is another factor. Simple tracks take only a few minutes to put together, while larger sets with more complex designs can take an hour or more to assemble. Either way, make sure you save the instructions.
What’s the best Hot Wheels toy to buy?
Top Hot Wheels toys
Hot Wheels Criss Cross Crash Motorized Track Set
What you need to know: This layout has four tracks that converge in a crash zone for hi-tor-miss racing thrills.
What you’ll love: Pure chaos when multiple cars have near misses and crash into each other at the intersection of this wild cloverleaf design. Motorized boosters powered by four D-cell batteries crank up the speed through hairpin turns, challenging intersections and a huge crash zone in the middle of the sturdy figure-eight track. The car feeder feature allows kids to line up lots of Hot Wheels cars to get them on the track when it’s their turn.
What you should consider: This set comes with only one car.
Where to buy: Amazon
Top Hot Wheels toys for the money
Hot Wheels Race Super Speed Blastway Dual Track
What you need to know: This Hot Wheels dual track is made for exciting side-by-side racing action.
What you’ll love: The two kid-activated slam launchers get the racing started. Hot Wheels cars knock off pit crew members every lap around the track, and a checkered flag appears at the end to reward the champion. This track easily connects to other Hot Wheels track sets.
What you should consider: Parts of the track can come disconnected if the play gets too rough.
Where to buy: Amazon
Worth checking out
Hot Wheels Factory Fresh 10-Pack Mini Collection
What you need to know: You can never have too many Hot Wheels cars.
What you’ll love: Every set is a surprise, with cars that come in 10 different styles and colors. All of the vehicles in this Mini Collection have realistic details and authentic decor. Each car, truck or motorcycle comes in its original, individual package for maximum collectibility.
What you should consider: Styles will vary, so enjoy the element of surprise when they arrive.
Where to buy: Amazon
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
David Allan Van writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | www.wavy.com | Best Hot Wheels toys | https://www.wavy.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/theme-toys-br/best-hot-wheels-toys/ |
||||||
[
"Fabiola Sánchez",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:51:02+00:00 | 2021-08-19 04:57:45 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fhurricane-grace-soaks-mexicos-caribbean-coast%2F.json | en | Tourists enjoy the beach before the arrival of Hurricane Grace, in Cancun, Quintana Roo State, Mexico, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. Residents and tourists along the Caribbean coast began making preparations for Grace, a storm that drenched Haiti and Jamaica and is now forecast to hit Mexico´s Yucatan peninsula like a hurricane early Thursday morning. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
TULUM, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Grace struck Mexico’s Caribbean coast just south of the ancient Mayan temples of Tulum on Thursday, tearing the roofs off some homes, knocking out power to thousands and keeping tourists off white sand beaches as it crossed the Yucatan Peninsula.
The push across land weakened the storm, but by evening it was centered back over water — the Gulf of Mexico — and the U.S. National Hurricane Center said it was again regaining strength as it headed for a collision with the Mexican mainland late Friday or early Saturday.
The Category 1 storm had already soaked earthquake-damaged Haiti, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands en route to a direct hit on the Riviera Maya, the heart of Mexico’s tourism industry. Grace’s center struck just south of Tulum with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kmh), according to the Hurricane Center.
By nightfall, tropical storm-force winds were back up to 60 mph (95 kph) and rising. It was centered about 350 miles (565 kilometers) east-northeast of Veracruz and was heading werst at 15 mph (24 kph).
in Tulum, some families passed harrowing hours sheltering from cracking trees and flying debris.
Around 2 a.m. Thursday, as Grace’s eye spun just offshore, Carlos González grabbed his 1 1/2-year-old son and ran from his home with his wife to a public school converted into a shelter for dozens of families. The light from his cell phone helped them find their way through the dark streets.
“The only thing I have left is what I’m wearing,” the 35-year-old construction worker said. “I knew my house wasn’t going to stand it because it’s made of cardboard. When the wind came I was really scared and decided to leave.”
Miguel Ángel Garcia decided to stay. On Thursday, he used a machete to hack at a tree trunk that had fallen onto his home’s roof.
“The wind came and they told us we should get to the school, but we didn’t have time because the trees started coming,” said the 33-year-old waiter. “We decided to stay and not go out into the street and leave it up to God.”
Many streets were blocked by fallen limbs and trees that pulled down power lines, leaving thousands in the dark.
Most businesses remained closed, but the few that opened saw long lines of residents waiting to buy tortillas and other food.
Quintana Roo Gov. Carlos Joaquín said the storm had knocked out power to some 84,000 customers in Cancun and 65,000 in Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Puerto Aventura and Tulum. But he said there were no reported deaths.
Cancun’s international airport reopened Thursday afternoon.
One lane of the highway between Playa del Carmen and Tulum was blocked by a fallen road sign. A gas station was destroyed when a large pavilion blew down, smashing two cars.
The state had opened shelters and evacuated some hotels and residents ahead of the storm’s arrival. Grace missed the popular cruise ship destination Cozumel and came ashore south of Playa del Carmen, where the downtown, usually thumping with music and clubgoers, was eerily desolate Wednesday night. Authorities had ordered all businesses closed and people inside by 8 p.m.
State authorities said that as of last week, the region was hosting about 130,000 tourists and hotels were more than half full despite the pandemic.
__
AP journalist Dan Christian Rojas in Cancun contributed to this report. | www.wavy.com | Hurricane Grace makes a mess of Mexico’s Mayan Riviera | https://www.wavy.com/news/world/hurricane-grace-soaks-mexicos-caribbean-coast/ |
||||||
[
"Cara Anna",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:51:57+00:00 | 2021-08-19 18:18:35 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fun-says-humanitarian-conditions-hellish-in-ethiopias-war%2F.json | en | FILE – In this Saturday, May 8, 2021 file photo, an Ethiopian woman argues with others over the allocation of yellow split peas after it was distributed by the Relief Society of Tigray in the town of Agula, in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia. The United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres said Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021 that humanitarian conditions in Ethiopia are “hellish” as the nine-month Tigray conflict spreads in Africa’s second most populous country. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The United Nations secretary-general said Thursday that humanitarian conditions in Ethiopia are “hellish” as the nine-month Tigray conflict spreads in Africa’s second most populous country.
Antonio Guterres told reporters that the spread of the fighting “has ensnared even more people in its horror.” Thousands of people have been killed since November, hundreds of thousands inside Tigray face famine conditions and hundreds of thousands in the neighboring Amhara and Afar regions have been displaced in recent weeks as resurgent Tigray forces move in.
The secretary-general said he spoke with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed earlier Thursday and “there was a commitment things would improve, but we have to see what happens in the next few days.” Previous commitments have not brought the unrestricted humanitarian access that the U.N. seeks for the Tigray region of some 6 million people.
The latest U.N. humanitarian update on Tigray, released on Thursday, said 100 trucks of supplies — 90 of them with food — must enter Tigray every day to help meet the needs of more than 5 million people.
But just 316 trucks had entered the region between July 12 and last Sunday, the update said. The U.N. and U.S. have described the Ethiopian government’s almost complete blockade of Tigray as a “siege,” and humanitarian workers have been subjected to what the U.N. calls “intense” searches by local authorities at checkpoints. Aid groups are running out of fuel, medical supplies and other resources.
Now many civilians in Amhara and Afar are on the run as allegations grow of shelling and targeted killings by the Tigray forces. Ethiopia’s government this year declared the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, which dominated the country’s government for 27 years before Abiy came to power, a terrorist group after a political fallout turned into fighting.
The U.N. secretary-general urged an immediate cease-fire, the creation of conditions for an Ethiopia-led political dialogue, unrestricted aid access and the return of basic services. Telephone, internet and banking services remain cut off across Tigray, further challenging efforts to deliver aid.
Guterres said he has been making “intense contacts” to press for a cease-fire and said he and African Union Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat “see eye to eye on what needs to be done.” The AU, with its headquarters in Ethiopia’s capital, has faced criticism for being quiet about the crisis on its doorstep.
The spokeswoman for Ethiopia’s prime minister, Billene Seyoum, did not respond to questions about Guterres’ comments or the “American initiative” he said was taking place in pursuit of a cease-fire. The prime minister this week didn’t meet with a U.S. special envoy, Jeffrey Feltman, during his Ethiopia visit, instead going to Turkey to sign a military cooperation agreement. | www.wavy.com | UN says humanitarian conditions ‘hellish’ in Ethiopia’s war | https://www.wavy.com/news/world/un-says-humanitarian-conditions-hellish-in-ethiopias-war/ |
||||||
[
"Cara Anna",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:52:09+00:00 | 2021-08-19 11:00:38 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fwho-africa-covid-19-booster-shots-make-mockery-of-equity%2F.json | en | Kenyans queue to receive the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine donated by Britain, at the Makongeni Estate in Nairobi, Kenya Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. In late June, the international system for sharing coronavirus vaccines sent about 530,000 doses to Britain – more than double the amount sent that month to the entire continent of Africa. It was the latest example of how a system that was supposed to guarantee low and middle-income countries vaccines is failing, leaving them at the mercy of haphazard donations from rich countries. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Rich countries’ decisions to roll out COVID-19 booster shots while so many people across Africa remain unvaccinated “threaten the promise of a brighter tomorrow” for the continent, the Africa director for the World Health Organization said Thursday, warning that “as some richer countries hoard vaccines, they make a mockery of vaccine equity.”
Matshidiso Moeti and other African health officials, including the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, had warned against booster shots in recent weeks as less than 2% of the population on the continent of 1.3 billion people is fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Moeti noted that the latest resurgence in cases across Africa is leveling off and more vaccine doses are finally arriving on the continent, but “Africa is encountering headwinds” as rich countries like the United States decide to roll out booster shots.
The situation in Africa remains “very fragile” as the more infectious delta variant is now dominant in most of the continent’s 54 countries, she said. More than 7.3 million cases, including more than 186,000 deaths, have been confirmed across the continent and health systems are straining to provide medical oxygen and other care.
U.S. health officials on Wednesday announced plans to dispense COVID-19 booster shots to all Americans amid the surging delta variant and signs that vaccines’ effectiveness is slipping.
Moeti told reporters she couldn’t say with any accuracy whether the doses the U.S. plans to use for booster shots will come from stocks that had been planned for Africa, but “hopefully not.”
The State Department did not immediately respond to questions.
Moeti noted the “already highly inequitable situation” globally in vaccine supply and urged that the emphasis instead be placed on making progress in vaccinating people in Africa, whose countries lag far behind much of the world in access and coverage.
Moeti pointed out that rich countries have on average administered more than 103 vaccine doses per 100 people, while in Africa it’s just six.
Earlier this week the WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, called it “unconscionable” that some countries are now offering booster shots “while so many people remain unprotected.”
Moeti on Thursday said that “we are urging wealthier countries that have supplies that are sometimes even more than their population numbers to increase their donations to African counties that have been so disadvantaged.”
She added, after the revelation this week that some COVID-19 vaccine doses now being manufactured in Africa are being shipped to Europe, “I think no better example can follow this than vaccines that are actually being produced on the African continent.” She called on those countries to consider donating some of the South Africa-produced vaccines to African nations “as well as serving their needs.” | www.wavy.com | WHO Africa: COVID-19 booster shots make ‘mockery’ of equity | https://www.wavy.com/news/world/who-africa-covid-19-booster-shots-make-mockery-of-equity/ |
||||||
[
"Lauren Corona",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:53:37+00:00 | 2021-08-19 10:23:31 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Fhealth-wellness-br%2Fears-nose-throat-br%2Fbest-earplugs-for-concerts%2F.json | en | You cannot reverse the cumulative damage caused to ears from regular exposure to loud noise at concerts, so preventing this damage by wearing earplugs is critical.
Which earplugs are best for concerts?
Whether you’re playing or attending, concerts get loud, so wearing earplugs can help protect your hearing. When buying earplugs for shows, they should reduce noise levels without limiting the quality or spectrum of sound so you can still appreciate the music to its fullest.
But, which are the best earplugs for concerts? You can find plenty of great options, including Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs, which have clever attenuation filters that reduce volume but preserve the full range of sound, so they’re ideal for concert-goers and musicians.
What to know before you buy earplugs for concerts
Sound filtering
Earplugs designed for use on factory floors or while sleeping block as much noise as possible. It doesn’t matter if they block some frequencies or make ambient noise sound muffled. However, when you buy earplugs for concerts, you still want to hear the music clearly, so the sound should be filtered, not blocked. This lets you hear the full range of musical frequencies and enjoy your favorite bands at a lower volume that won’t damage your hearing. Earplugs that can filter sounds are sometimes known as attenuating earplugs or high fidelity earplugs.
Noise reduction rating
Some earplugs will give you a noise reduction rating in decibels that tells you roughly how many decibels they’ll reduce noises around you. You can expect earplugs for concerts to have a noise reduction rating somewhere between 11 and 27 decibels.
Tip sizes
People’s ears aren’t all the same size, so you can’t expect one earplug size to fit every ear. Instead, many earplugs have interchangeable tips and come with two or three tip sizes so you can find the size that best fits your ears. What’s also great about earplugs with interchangeable tips is that you can usually buy replacement tips when yours have worn out, so you don’t need to replace the full earplugs.
What to look for in quality earplugs for concerts
Case
Many earplugs for musicians and concert-goers come with a convenient carry case, making it easier to take them around with you and reducing the chance of losing them. Keychain cases that come with a ring to fit on your keyfob are convenient because as long as you bring your keys with you, you’ll never forget your earplugs.
Neck cord
Some earplugs come with a neck cord that sits around the back of your neck. This lets you more easily take out your earplugs between sets without losing them or having to put them back in their case.
Comfort
It’s essential that your earplugs feel comfortable to wear. Those with soft silicone tips are usually reasonably comfortable if you get the right fit.
How much you can expect to spend on earplugs for concerts
The earplugs for concerts cost less than $10, though their quality is questionable. Most cost $15-$50, though you can get custom-made earplugs for several hundred dollars, which may be a good investment if you play or attend concerts regularly.
Earplugs for concerts FAQ
Should I wear earplugs to a concert?
A. Yes. It might feel and sound a bit strange at first if you’re used to going to concerts without earplugs, but it’s worth getting used to them to protect your hearing. Regular exposure to loud noises can lead to tinnitus and eventually hearing loss, so frequent gig-goers should look after their hearing by wearing earplugs.
Does wearing earplugs damage your ears?
A. If you use them correctly, no, you won’t damage your ears by wearing earplugs, but you should exercise some caution. Make sure to clean your earplugs regularly. Otherwise, bacteria can build up, and when you put them back into your ears, that bacteria could cause an ear infection. Untreated ear infections can cause hearing loss in serious cases, so it’s not worth running the risk. It only takes a few seconds to wipe down the tips of your earplugs, after all.
What are the best earplugs for concerts to buy?
Top earplugs for concerts
Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs
What you need to know: The perfect choice for people who need excellent clarity as these earplugs reduce sound without muffling it.
What you’ll love: It uses soft, comfortable silicone, comes with two tip sizes, has a pull tab that allows easy removal and comes with a handy case that fits on a keychain.
What you should consider: Not the best value for money.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top earplugs for concerts for the money
Etymotic Research High-Fidelity Earplugs
What you need to know: These are excellent earplugs for buyers on a limited budget that perform just as well as many more costly options.
What you’ll love: They have a low-profile design, come with a case and a detachable neck cord and retain a good amount of sound quality.
What you should consider: Some users find them a poor fit and uncomfortable.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Vibes High Fidelity Earplugs
What you need to know: These are ideal for people who don’t want their earplugs to stand out, thanks to the completely clear stem.
What you’ll love: They are comfortable to wear, include three tip sizes and a small carry case included and the sound is filtered, not blocked, so that you can hear the music clearly.
What you should consider: If you want a neck cord or keychain case, they’re sold separately.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Lauren Corona writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | www.wavy.com | Best earplugs for concerts | https://www.wavy.com/reviews/br/health-wellness-br/ears-nose-throat-br/best-earplugs-for-concerts/ |
||||||
[
"Chris Gillespie",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:53:10+00:00 | 2021-08-19 12:57:16 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Fcamping-outdoors-br%2Ftents-br%2Fbest-tailgate-tent%2F.json | en | A tent makes for an inexpensive holiday and gives you the freedom to explore and make camp wherever you like.
Which tailgate tent is best?
If you own an SUV, a van or a truck, then there is likely a tailgate tent suitable for you. Tailgate tents are available in a range of styles, from simple canopies for daytime use to fully waterproof models that clip onto the back of a vehicle or connect to the bed of a truck. Some even have sleeping quarters and can be used as a regular tent for camping trips and festivals.
Deciding which tailgate tent is best for you will depend on how you want to use it and in what type of weather. The Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent is designed for flatbed trucks such as the Ford F Series and the Nissan Titan. It has a 5-foot ceiling height and can easily accommodate two people. Alternatively, there are many other designs worthy of consideration, which are suitable for most budgets.
What to know before you buy a tailgate tent
Purpose
How you plan to use your tent will determine the design that you need. For light daytime use, a simple canopy is often sufficient. However, these usually don’t incorporate walls or a floor and don’t offer much protection from the elements. For camping and overnight trips, a fully enclosed tent will offer privacy and protection similar to that of a regular tent.
Vehicle
The size and shape of your vehicle will dictate the type of tent that can be used. Some are designed to attach to the back of the vehicle with the tailgate open, allowing access to the rear. Some use the bed and sides of the truck with the tent forming a roof, whereas other, larger models are erected behind the vehicle and incorporate the trunk for sleeping quarters.
Material
The material of the tent is an important factor for several reasons. Canopy-style tents are mainly used as shade from the sun and offer little protection in cold or rainy weather. Canvas is a good all-around choice as it’s hard-wearing and should provide years of service. If you want to camp in inclement weather, then a dual-walled tent with taped seams will offer the most protection.
What to look for in a quality tailgate tent
Ease of use
How difficult and the speed with which a tent can be erected varies from model to model. A canopy can be set up in a few minutes, as it has few parts to assemble, while larger, multi-room tents will often require two people. A tent with color-coded poles makes it much easier to locate each part and can be a fun learning exercise for children.
Size
If you plan to use the tent for camping, then be sure it is large enough for the number of occupants and their belongings. Usually, sizing runs a little small; for example, a two-person tent is just big enough for two people to sleep but doesn’t offer room for much else.
Features
All tents are available with additional features, which, depending on your budget, may or may not be necessary. Any kind of extras that improve the tent’s weather resistance is beneficial for those who want versatility from their investment. Twin zips, mosquito nets, built-in groundsheets and internal stash pockets are all handy but do increase the weight and overall price.
How much you can expect to spend on a tailgate tent
Prices range significantly depending on the size of the tent. A simple canopy can be purchased for under $200, whereas a larger, multi-room tent will start at around $800.
Tailgate tent FAQ
Are tailgate tents heavy?
A. Backpacking tents are usually constructed using ultra-lightweight materials. However, since these tents are designed to be carried in a vehicle, this isn’t necessary. A canopy-style tent with steel poles weighs around 20 to 40 pounds; a tent suitable for camping may be double that.
What is the best way to clean a tent?
A. Unfortunately, putting a tent in a washing machine will impair its waterproof properties. Instead, use clean water and a mild detergent to clean any dirt or stains by hand. Always make sure your tent is completely dry before storage to prevent mold and mildew.
What’s the best tailgate tent to buy?
Top tailgate tent
Kodiak Canvas Truck Bed Tent
What you need to know: This two-person tent is designed for use in the back of a truck and is available in different sizes for different bed lengths.
What you’ll love: It is made with cotton duck canvas that is durable, watertight and breathable. It has a large D-shaped door and two zippered windows.
What you should consider: It doesn’t have a built-in groundsheet; rather, the bed of the truck becomes the floor.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top tailgate tent for the money
Napier Sportz Cove
What you need to know: This universal-fit canopy shade fits most small-to-midsize SUVs and minivans.
What you’ll love: It is ideal for fishing trips, picnics and barbecues. It provides almost 3 feet of shade and has a built-in mesh to keep out bugs.
What you should consider: It cannot be used on an SUV with a barn door.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Worth checking out
CLAM Quick-Set Escape Sport
What you need to know: This versatile gazebo has a pop-up design that takes under a minute to erect.
What you’ll love: It is 7.5 feet tall at its highest point, making it large enough to fit over the back of a truck or an SUV. It can accommodate eight people and a picnic table.
What you should consider: When packed into its storage bag, it is still rather large and bulky.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Chris Gillespie writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | www.wavy.com | Best tailgate tent | https://www.wavy.com/reviews/br/camping-outdoors-br/tents-br/best-tailgate-tent/ |
||||||
[
"Addison Hoggard",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:53:03+00:00 | 2021-08-19 10:22:49 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Fcamping-outdoors-br%2Ftents-br%2Fbest-10-person-tent%2F.json | en | Once you get your 10-person tent, try setting it up at home before you head out to the campground to check for defects and to practice the set-up process.
Which 10-person tent is best?
When it comes to camping with a group, a 10-person tent is the best option. There is no need to worry about setting up a bunch of separate tents when you can save time by just setting up one that’s big enough to accommodate everyone in the group. These tents are especially great for family outings.
While it seems like privacy could be an issue with a 10-person tent, rest assured that many models feature separate sleeping compartments. A top pick, the Ozark Trail, comes with three rooms for extra privacy, space and comfort.
What to know before you buy a 10-person tent
Weight
This will ultimately depend on the fabric of your tent. While in the past, tents primarily used cotton canvas and other heavy materials, most tents on the market today use polyester, nylon or a combination of the two. This makes even larger tents lightweight and portable without cutting corners on quality.
Types of tents
There are a few types of 10-person tents on the market, and each type comes with its own pros and cons.
The most common type of 10-person will be a dome tent. This style of tent will be familiar to anyone who has camped before. It makes use of three to four separate poles to hoist and support the fabric.
Another typical style of a 10-person tent is the cone style. These tents usually use one pole in the middle and stakes to secure the bottom of the tent on the ground.
Comfortability
Most models are true to their word when it comes to how many people they can fit comfortably, but if you prefer to camp with air mattresses, it’s worth considering which sizes of mattresses can fit in a tent.
For example, the Ozark Trail 10-person tent has three sleeping compartments but can fit three queen-sized air mattresses and a twin-sized air mattress.
What to look for in a quality 10-person tent
Sturdiness and durability
When considering which 10-person tent to buy, pay extra attention to how sturdy the tent is. The larger the tent, the more prone it is to wind. You’ll want to make sure that the tent comes with quality ground stakes, and if not, consider buying your own.
As mentioned before, most 10-person tents use lightweight materials such as nylon or polyester. These materials are great because they are breathable and light while still being durable and waterproof.
Simple set-up
It’s always best to find a 10-person tent that is as easy to set up as possible. No one wants to waste time setting up a needlessly complicated tent.
Having a simple set-up doesn’t necessarily mean that you can pitch the tent alone. If you plan to set up the tent solo, consider the Ozark Trail 10-person tent or the Coleman WeatherMaster.
Storage space
Most 10-person tents will come with some sort of storage space for clothes, food or other items. The Timber Ridge family tent, for example, comes with plenty of storage space. Notably, this tent makes use of netting that you can suspend from the top of the tent for extra storage space.
How much you can expect to spend on a 10-person tent
10-person tents can range from the budget price of $100-$1,000. The cost typically correlates to the tent style, with the most common styles being less pricey.
10-person tent FAQ
Do I need to buy any extra accessories for my 10-person tent?
A. In short, no. A quality 10-person tent will come with everything you need in the bag. If you want to take extra precautions, you could look into buying a tarp to put under the tent and some quality tent stakes to make sure that it is secured to the ground.
Is it possible to set up a 10-person tent on my own?
A. This will largely depend on the set-up process of your specific 10-person tent. If it has a more complicated set-up, you’re better off bringing along a friend. Check out the set-up instructions that came with your tent to see if it seems feasible to set it up alone.
What’s the best 10-person tent to buy?
Top 10-person tent
Ozark Trail 10-Person Tent
What you need to know: This tent is spacious and great for both novice and seasoned campers.
What you’ll love: Easy set-up and sturdy construction make this tent stand out from the competition.
What you should consider: If you’re camping in an area subject to high winds, like the beach, you should consider buying extra-long stakes.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top 10-person tent for the money
UNP 10-Person Family Tent
What you need to know: This 10-person tent is excellent for anyone on a budget. This spacious tent has quality fabric and an easy set-up.
What you’ll love: This tent has two main sleeping compartments separated by an optional divider that can double as an in-tent cinema screen.
What you should consider: Best for use in good weather.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Core 11-Person Family Cabin Tent
What you need to know: The main feature of this tent is its spacious screen room. Great for anyone that wants to feel extra close to nature.
What you’ll love: Extra sturdy and weather-proof, this tent can house a large group comfortably.
What you should consider: This tent has a relatively large footprint and may not fit some campsites. It is also heavier, weighing in at about 43lbs.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Addison Hoggard writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | www.wavy.com | Best 10-person tent | https://www.wavy.com/reviews/br/camping-outdoors-br/tents-br/best-10-person-tent/ |
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[
"John Wawrow",
"Associated Press",
"Nathan Crawford",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Jason Marks"
] | 2021-08-20 01:54:58+00:00 | 2021-08-19 20:45:54 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fsports%2Fap-source-nhl-top-draft-pick-power-returning-to-michigan%2F.json | en | FILE- In this March 14, 2021, file photo, Michigan’s Kent Johnson (13) shoots during an NCAA college Big Ten hockey tournament game against Ohio State, at the Compton Family Ice Arena in South Bend, Ind. Ann Arbor, Michigan, became a must-stop on the scouting trail because of a buzz-worthy Wolverines lineup featuring a trio of highly touted freshmen in defenseman Owen Power, and forwards Kent Johnson and Mathew Beniers. (Michael Caterina/South Bend Tribune via AP, FIle)
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Michigan defenseman Owen Power has elected to return to school for his sophomore season rather than make the jump to the NHL after being selected with the No. 1 pick by the Buffalo Sabres in the draft last month.
A person with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed Power’s decision to The Associated Press on Thursday. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the player’s decision has not yet been made public. The Buffalo News first reported the news earlier in the day.
Power’s decision does not come as a surprise after saying he was leaning toward returning to Michigan in the weeks leading up to the draft.
The 18-year-old from Mississauga, Ontario, cited numerous reasons for playing one more season at Ann Arbor, including wanting more time to develop and having the opportunity to enjoy a normal college year on campus minus COVID-19 restrictions. Power was also motivated by the chance to compete for a Frozen Four title after Michigan’s season ended abruptly when the No. 2-seeded Wolverines were removed from the NCAA Tournament following positive COVID-19 test results.
Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams responded by saying the team was on board should Power return to school for an additional year of development.
“This is a tough league. So I think the one mistake we don’t want to make is putting someone in position that they’re just treading water,” Adams said. “We want them to be ready to play.”
The Sabres are in the midst of major offseason overhaul and placing their focus on building through youth after dealing forward Sam Reinhart and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen in separate trades last month. Captain Jack Eichel is also on the trade block in part due to a widening rift with the team over whether to have surgery to repair a neck injury that sidelined him for the final two months of the season.
Power is listed at 6-foot-6 and 213 pounds and was a Big Ten all-rookie team selection after scoring three goals and adding 13 assists for 16 points in 26 games. Power was then selected to represent eventual champion Canada at the world championships in Latvia in May and June. Power’s role increased through the tournament, and he finished with three assists in 10 games.
Power became the third NCAA player selected first in the NHL draft.
The Wolverines return a potentially stacked team after having four of the first five players selected in the NHL draft.
Michigan center Matthew Beniers went No. 2 to the expansion Seattle Kraken, forward Kent Johnson was selected fifth by Columbus, and defenseman Luke Hughes — who is committed to play for the Wolverines this year — was chosen fourth overall by the New Jersey Devils.
___
More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | www.wavy.com | AP source: NHL top draft pick, Power, returning to Michigan | https://www.wavy.com/sports/ap-source-nhl-top-draft-pick-power-returning-to-michigan/ |
||||||
[
"Kevin Mcgill",
"Associated Press",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:47:30+00:00 | 2021-08-19 13:18:34 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fhealth%2Fappeals-court-upholds-texas-law-to-ban-abortion-procedure%2F.json | en | NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A Texas law outlawing an abortion method commonly used to end second-trimester pregnancies has been upheld by a federal appeals court in New Orleans.
The 2017 law in question has never been enforced. It seeks to prohibit the use of forceps to remove a fetus from the womb without first using an injected drug or a suction procedure to ensure the fetus is dead.
Abortion rights advocates argued that the law, known as SB8 in court records, effectively outlaws what is often the safest method of abortion for women in the second trimester of pregnancy. The procedure is medically known as dilation and evacuation.
They also argued that fetuses cannot feel pain during the gestation period affected by the law.
Texas legislators banned the procedure with a law that describes it as “dismemberment abortion.” Abortion rights supporters argued in court that one alternative provided in the law, using suction to remove a fetus, also results in dismemberment.
A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked enforcement of the law last year. But Texas was granted a re-hearing by the full court, and a majority of the 14 appellate judges who heard arguments in January (three of the court’s 17 active judges were recused) sided with Texas on Wednesday. The opinion, by judges Jennifer Walker Elrod and Don Willett, said “the record shows that doctors can safely perform D&Es and comply with SB8 using methods that are already in widespread use.”
Concurring in the result were judges Priscilla Owen, Edith Jones, Jerry Smith, Catharina Haynes, James Ho, Kurt Engelhardt and Cory Wilson.
Judge James Dennis wrote a dissent, joined by judges Carl Stewart and James Graves. A separate dissent was written by Judge Stephen Higginson, joined by Gregg Costa.
Dennis said the Texas law, “under the guise of regulation, makes it a felony to perform the most common and safe abortion procedure employed during the second trimester.”
The Center for Reproductive Rights is analyzing the decision and considering all legal options, said its president and CEO, Nancy Northup.
”Texas has been hellbent on legislating abortion out of existence, and it is galling that a federal court would uphold a law that so clearly defies decades of Supreme Court precedent,” Northup said. “At a time when the health care needs of Texans are greater than ever, the state should be making abortion more accessible, not less. There is no question that today’s decision will harm those who already face the greatest barriers to health care.”
Texas Right to Life applauded the ruling.
“If the abortion industry appeals today’s decision, the Supreme Court must answer the case’s dynamic legal question: ‘Is a dismemberment abortion inhumane enough to warrant legal prohibition?’” the anti-abortion group’s statement said. “The evident answer to this targeted question directly undermines some of the Supreme Court’s central premises in their abortion jurisprudence, such as the misconception that pre-viability abortions are more ethical than those that occur after viability.”
“Texans celebrate today’s long-awaited victory,” Texas Right to Life Director of Media and Communication Kimberlyn Schwartz said in the release. “Anyone can see the cruelty of dismemberment abortions, ripping a child’s body apart while her heart is still beating. We’re grateful the judges recognized this horror.”
___
This story now includes dropped attribution and quotation marks in the second-to-last paragraph, which is based on a statement by Texas Right to Life. | www.wavy.com | Appeals court upholds Texas law to ban abortion procedure | https://www.wavy.com/news/health/appeals-court-upholds-texas-law-to-ban-abortion-procedure/ |
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[
"Damian J. Troise",
"Alex Veiga",
"Associated Press",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:46:27+00:00 | 2021-08-19 06:49:47 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fbusiness%2Fasian-stocks-retreat-on-lack-of-direction-from-fed-pandemic%2F.json | en | A currency trader stands in front of screens showing foreign exchange rates at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. Asian stock markets retreated Thursday after U.S. central bank policymakers made no firm decision on when to unwind their support measures for the economy. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Wall Street closed out another choppy day of trading Thursday, leaving the major stock indexes on pace for a weekly loss.
The S&P 500 managed a 0.1% gain after having been down 0.7% in the early going. The Nasdaq composite also recovered to eke out 0.1% gain, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2%.
Small-companies fell broadly. A late-afternoon rally in technology stocks helped offset some of the losses in energy companies, banks and other sectors. Prices for oil and other commodities also fell, pulling mining and energy stocks lower. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.25%.
Investors continued to size up quarterly report cards from retailers. Macy’sposted its second-biggest single-day gain as traders cheered the department store chain’s latest results.
Much of the market’s choppiness, especially in the S&P 500, is due to investors trying to position themselves as they gauge the pace of the recovery and how it will benefit different sectors of the economy.
“One of the challenges right now is we’re getting some degree of a mixed message about what is working and what’s not,” said Eric Freedman, chief investment officer at U.S. Bank Wealth Management.
The market first has to gauge the near-term prospects for the economy as COVID-19 remains a threat, Freedman said. At the same time, investors have to also focus on what the economy looks like after the virus recedes or when the world learns to live with the virus in a different way.
“There’s going to be a lot of fits and starts,” he said.
The S&P 500 added 5.53 points to 4,405.80. The Dow fell 66.57 points to 34,894.12. The tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 15.87 points to 14,541.79. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 26.36 points, or1.2%, to 2,132.42.
The broader market has been losing ground overall since the benchmark S&P 500 reached another record high on Monday. It’s now within 1.7% of that record and on pace for its first weekly loss in three weeks. The Dow, Nasdaq and Russell 2000 are also down for the week.
Technology companies made broad gains, including 4% for chipmaker Nvidia after it reported strong financial results, but those gains were outweighed by a slide in financial and industrial stocks. Companies that rely on consumer spending also weighed heavily on the market. Energy stocks took the heaviest losses in the S&P 500 as energy prices fell.
Commodities fell broadly, with everything from oil to agricultural commodities to metals moving lower. Copper prices fell 1.9%, while the price of U.S. crude oil closed 2.7% lower. The drop in commodities prices dragged down oil companies and those who extract raw materials for industrial uses. Miner Freeport-McMoRan, Devon Energy and Occidental Petroleum fell 3% or more.
The volatility in the commodities markets is notable because investors have been acutely focused on inflation as the global economy emerges from the pandemic. Earlier this year prices for basic materials like lumber and copper and gasoline were all rising steadily and several high multi-year highs. Most of those gains have now been erased with declines in recent weeks.
Investors got a bit of positive economic news when the Labor Department reported another weekly drop in the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits. Claims fell 29,000 to 348,000 last week, a pandemic low. The four-week average fell 19,000 to just below 378,000, also a pandemic low.
While stocks in the benchmark S&P 500 are now down roughly 1.4% this week, fund managers do not expect much volatility this month as investors will have little data to work with and earnings season is now mostly over. August also tends to be a popular month for investors to take their vacations, so trading is typically slower. September tends to be a much more volatile month once Wall Street is back to work.
Government bond yields fell. The 10-year Treasury note traded at a yield of 1.25%, down from 1.27% the day before.
Robinhood sank 10.3% as traders worried that the booming growth at the popular online brokerage app could slow down. Macy’s soared 19.6% after issuing a strong forecast and reporting earnings that were far bigger than analysts were expecting. That nearly matched the biggest percentage gain the stock had in its history, which came on May 27, 2020. | www.wavy.com | Another choppy day on Wall Street ends with indexes mixed | https://www.wavy.com/news/business/asian-stocks-retreat-on-lack-of-direction-from-fed-pandemic/ |
||||||
[
"Chinedu Asadu",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:51:16+00:00 | 2021-08-19 09:28:24 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fnigerian-police-say-9-pupils-taken-in-new-school-kidnapping%2F.json | en | LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Gunmen in Nigeria abducted nine students on their way home from an Islamic school in the country’s northwest, two days after a mass school abduction took place in a neighboring state, police said Thursday.
The students were kidnapped earlier this week in Katsina state, police spokesman Isah Gambo told The Associated Press.
They were whisked away by the bandits on motorcycles into a nearby forested area, according to Hassan Muawuya, a resident.
The new abduction in Katsina raises fresh concerns over the ability of Nigeria’s security agencies to provide adequate security in Africa’s most populous nation particularly in its northern states, where such armed groups often attack remote communities.
The kidnapping in Katsina took place the same day that the state Gov. Aminu Bello Masari urged residents to buy guns to defend themselves from criminal attacks in a state and country where the private use of guns is rare.
Katsina, the home state of Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, is only one of six states where school abductions have occurred in the country since December 2020 when Nigeria started to witness a spike in mass school kidnappings in its northern states.
Over 1,000 students have been forcibly taken from their schools during those attacks, according to an AP tally of figures previously confirmed by the police. Although most of those kidnapped have been released, many are still held by their abductors.
In Zamfara State, where 19 persons including 15 students were abducted from a school on Sunday, local media reported Wednesday that their abductors demanded a ransom equivalent to more than $850,000 for the students to be freed.
The kidnappers in Nigeria’s north are believed to be mostly former cattle herders seeking cash from the ransoms. They move on motorcycles in large groups, often more than 100, and operate in the forests of northwestern Nigeria, making it difficult for police and security to track them down. | www.wavy.com | Nigerian police say 9 pupils taken in new school kidnapping | https://www.wavy.com/news/world/nigerian-police-say-9-pupils-taken-in-new-school-kidnapping/ |
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[
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:47:24+00:00 | 2021-08-19 23:47:09 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fbusiness%2Fus-average-mortgage-rates-little-changed-30-year-at-2-86%2F.json | en | FILE – In this Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 file photo, a for sale sign stands in front of a house in Westwood, Mass. Mortgage rates were mixed this week and barely changed after rising for the first time last week following six weeks of declines. Average rates for home loans remain historically low at under 3%. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021 that the average for the 30-year mortgage eased to 2.86% from 2.87% last week. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Mortgage rates were mixed this week and barely changed after rising for the first time last week following six weeks of declines. Average rates for home loans remain historically low at under 3%.
Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the average for the 30-year mortgage eased to 2.86% from 2.87% last week. The benchmark rate, which reached a peak this year of 3.18% in April, stood at 2.99% a year ago.
The rate for a 15-year loan, a popular option among homeowners refinancing their mortgages, edged up to 2.16% from 2.15% last week.
Uncertainty over the fast-spreading delta coronavirus variant and its potential effect on the economic recovery has been a backdrop in recent weeks, suppressing mortgage rates. The worry is that the resurgent virus could discourage people from going out and spending and trigger another round of shutdowns or other restrictions.
In a positive development, a government report Thursday showed that the number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell last week for a fourth straight time to a pandemic low. The 29,000 decline in claims, to 348,000, was the latest sign that the U.S. job market is rebounding from the pandemic recession as employers boost hiring to meet a surge in consumer demand. | www.wavy.com | US average mortgage rates little changed; 30-year at 2.86% | https://www.wavy.com/news/business/us-average-mortgage-rates-little-changed-30-year-at-2-86/ |
||||||
[
"Kevin Freking",
"Associated Press",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:49:01+00:00 | 2021-08-19 21:49:33 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fthree-senators-test-positive-for-covid-in-breakthrough-cases%2F.json | en | FILE – In this June 18, 2021, file photo, U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, speaks at Acadia National Park in Winter Harbor, Maine. King tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, a day after he began feeling under the weather, his office announced. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Three senators said Thursday they have tested positive for COVID-19 despite being vaccinated, a high-profile collection of breakthrough cases that comes as the highly infectious delta variant spreads rapidly across the United States.
Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., all said they have tested positive for the virus. Almost every member of the Senate spent long hours together on the chamber’s floor last week in an all-night sessionof budget votes before leaving town for August recess.
King said he began feeling feverish Wednesday and took a COVID test at his doctor’s suggestion. “While I am not feeling great, I’m definitely feeling much better than I would have without the vaccine,” King said.
Wicker’s office said he tested positive for the virus Thursday morning.
“Senator Wicker is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, is in good health, and is being treated by his Tupelo-based physician,” a statement from his staff read. “He is isolating, and everyone with whom Senator Wicker has come in close contact recently has been notified.”
Hickenlooper announced his positive test a few hours later.
“I feel good but will isolate per docs instructions. I’m grateful for the vaccine (& the scientists behind it!) for limiting my symptoms,” Hickenlooper tweeted. “If you haven’t gotten your shot—get it today! And a booster when it’s available too!”
The breakthrough cases emerged the day after U.S. health officials announced plans to dispense COVID-19 booster shots to Americans. They said the shots are needed to shore up their protection against the delta variant amid signs that the vaccines’ effectiveness is waning over time.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. had announced Aug. 2 that he had tested positive for COVID-19 despite being vaccinated. “Sending best wishes for a speedy recovery to my good friends and colleagues,” he tweeted Thursday.
“If you have not already done so please #GetVaccinated,” Graham added.
Dozens of members of Congress have reported testing positive for COVID-19. Rep. Ron Wright, R-Texas, 67, died from the disease early this year while Rep.-elect Luke Letlow, R-La., 41, died in December before being sworn into office. | www.wavy.com | Three senators test positive for COVID in breakthrough cases | https://www.wavy.com/news/politics/three-senators-test-positive-for-covid-in-breakthrough-cases/ |
||||||
[
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:54:38+00:00 | 2021-08-20 01:09:36 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fsports%2F6-kentucky-football-players-charged-with-burglary%2F.json | en | LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Six University of Kentucky football players have been charged with first-degree burglary, with one also accused of first degree wanton endangerment, following the investigation of an incident last March at a private party.
The Lexington Police Department said in a release Thursday that offensive lineman Reuben Adams, running back Robert McClain, defensive back Andru Phillips, receiver Earnest Sanders IV, safety Devito Tisdale and defensive back Joel Williams were charged with first-degree burglary. Tisdale also was charged with wanton endangerment for allegedly pointing a gun at one of the victims.
The players face arraignment Friday in Fayette County District Court.
Wildcats coach Mark Stoops said in a statement that he was aware of the current situation and that the program had been aware of the matter since March. The program withheld players from team activities while a student conduct review was held and returned to activity in June based on the outcome.
“We are evaluating the current situation as we receive more information,” Stoops added.
The release stated that on March 6 three individuals entered a private party uninvited at a residence and were asked to leave. They became upset and threatened to return, the release added, and came back a short time later with additional individuals.
They forced their way inside and one suspect was observed pointing a firearm at a victim, the release stated.
Kentucky’s athletic department said in a statement that: “The institution and athletics department take these matters very seriously. We are closely evaluating this issue before determining next steps.”
All six players were part of the 2020 recruiting class with McClain, Tisdale and Williams seeing action in many of Kentucky’s games last fall.
McClain rushed 16 times for 62 yards in 11 contests. Tisdale had 20 tackles and nine assists in 10 games, while Williams had three stops in nine contests.
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | www.wavy.com | 6 Kentucky football players charged with burglary | https://www.wavy.com/sports/6-kentucky-football-players-charged-with-burglary/ |
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[
"Lauren Corona",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:54:25+00:00 | 2021-08-19 12:58:02 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Fpets-br%2Fdog-health-br%2Fbest-dog-dental-supplements%2F.json | en | Canine gum disease is reversible with proper care, so if you notice gum issues, step up your dog’s dental health routine and consult your vet in case they need a cleaning.
Which dog dental supplement is best?
You might brush your teeth morning and night, floss and rinse with mouthwash, but are you remembering your canine companion’s dental health? Dog dental supplements play a part in reducing plaque and tartar that can lead to gum disease and can help keep your pup’s mouth healthy.
The question is, which dog dental supplement is up to the task? VetriScience Laboratories Perio Support Dental Health Powder is an excellent choice for most dogs, as it’s palatable and easy to mix with food.
What to know before you buy a dog dental supplement
Dental supplement type
The majority of dog dental supplements come in powder form. These can be mixed in with food so they’re easy to administer to your dog. Supplements in tablet form can be just as effective but may be harder to get your dog to consume. You can also find liquid additives that are either mixed with food or added to water.
Those added to water are generally tasteless or flavored to make them palatable, but they often aren’t as effective as other types of supplements and may simply serve to cover bad breath rather than resolving dental issues. Although they aren’t really supplements, there are also dog dental chews and other dental treats that you can buy.
Active ingredients
The active ingredients in dog dental supplements are what make them work. These ingredients vary depending on the supplement you choose, and some are more effective than others. Kelp is a common ingredient as it contains a beneficial bacteria, Bacillus licheniformis, that breaks down the bacterial biofilm on teeth that turns into plaque.
Other active ingredients include various enzymes that support dental health, fragaria from strawberries that softens existing plaque and prevents new buildup and minerals called zeolites that aid in stopping new plaque deposits from sticking to the teeth.
What to look for in a quality dog dental supplement
VOHC approval
The Veterinary Oral Health Council puts its seal of approval on products that prevent plaque and tartar buildup on dogs. To be awarded VOHC approval, products must meet a set of predetermined standards, so its seal of approval is a good sign that the product does what it says it does.
All-natural
If you’re concerned about artificial additives and controversial chemicals in dog dental supplements, you’ll be pleased to know that you can find some all-natural formulas.
Homeopathic
Avoid any dog dental supplements labeled as homeopathic. Herbal remedies contain measurable quantities of herbs that may have therapeutic effects, while the ingredients in homeopathic remedies may be so highly diluted in water that they’re no longer detectable.
How much you can expect to spend on dog dental supplements
Most dog dental supplements cost $10-$40, depending on factors such as the supplement type and package size.
Dog dental supplement FAQ
Do I still need to brush my dog’s teeth if I give them a dog dental supplement?
A. Dog dental supplements are just one weapon in the war against tooth and gum problems in dogs. Although these supplements can reduce plaque and improve dental health, they aren’t a substitute for brushing. If you can brush your dog’s teeth, you should do so in addition to using supplements. If your dog simply won’t let you brush their teeth, you can use dental chews and similar, plus supplements, but this isn’t as effective as brushing.
Can you reverse tooth decay in dogs?
A. No, once a dog’s teeth start to decay, there’s no way to reverse it and the dog in question will likely eventually need to have the offending teeth removed. Luckily, tooth decay isn’t all that common in dogs due to the shape of their teeth and their largely sugar-free diet. The majority of dental issues in dogs are caused by gum disease. If you don’t care for your dog’s teeth, plaque and tartar build up on the teeth, getting under the gumline and causing inflamed gums. Eventually, these gum issues can lead to dental abscesses and tooth loss, which is painful and unpleasant for dogs and can contribute to further health issues.
What’s the best dog dental supplement to buy?
Top dog dental supplement
VetriScience Laboratories Perio Support Dental Health Powder
What you need to know: This palatable powder dental supplement is great for dogs who are picky eaters.
What you’ll love: Contains probiotics to disrupt bad bacteria in the mouth and zeolites to help prevent plaque from sticking to the teeth. Made in the USA.
What you should consider: Some users find it doesn’t improve their dogs’ bad breath.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top dog dental supplement for the money
Animal Essentials SeaDent for Dogs
What you need to know: An affordable kelp-based dental supplement that breaks down biofilm that leads to plaque.
What you’ll love: Fights both plaque and bacteria for better dental health. Works under the gumline. Contains naturally-occurring vitamins and minerals.
What you should consider: Contains added enzymes and preservatives that shouldn’t be necessary in kelp supplements.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Chewy
Worth checking out
ProDen PlaqueOff Powder
What you need to know: A supplement made from 100% kelp that’s great for dog owners who want to stick to natural products.
What you’ll love: Disrupts biofilm to help keep new plaque from forming as well as softening existing tartar. Easy to mix with food.
What you should consider: Some dogs don’t like the taste.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Chewy
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Lauren Corona writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | www.wavy.com | Best dog dental supplements | https://www.wavy.com/reviews/br/pets-br/dog-health-br/best-dog-dental-supplements/ |
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[
"Daniel Martin",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:53:30+00:00 | 2021-08-19 10:23:48 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Felectronics-br%2Flaptop-computers-br%2Fbest-laptop-for-elementary-school%2F.json | en | Children in the United States were not legally required to attend school until 1918, at which point they had to complete at least elementary school.
Which laptop is best for elementary school students?
Buying the right laptop is no easy task in general, but purchasing a laptop for elementary school can be that much harder to choose.
What to know before you buy a laptop for elementary school
Weight and battery life
Since your child will likely be dashing from the classroom to the library and everywhere else, two factors that you must consider are the overall weight and battery life. The former determines how uncomfortable your child is as they lug said laptop hither and yon as they attend elementary school, while the latter determines exactly how long they can use the laptop without requiring a recharge. To help your child excel, the selected laptops are classified as ultra-light or very lightweight and have amazingly long battery lives to keep them learning for hours and hours.
Warranty and price
Anyone who has or has been around children of elementary school age should expect any electronic equipment given to them will likely suffer a multitude of abuses, including drops, kicks and spilled drinks. If you didn’t plump for the extended warranty for a laptop that costs at least $500, you’d be kicking yourself for quite some time to come.
Unless your child happens to attend a private school or a wealthy school district that can provide your child with a laptop for academic usage, there’s a very high chance you’ll need to keep an eye out for seasonal sales on electronic equipment. Given that your child needs a robust and reliable PC for elementary school, they deserve a laptop that doesn’t break the bank. However, you should only purchase a decent laptop manufactured by a well-known company since you very much get what you pay for when buying a laptop.
Features of a quality laptop for elementary school
Add-ons
Depending on which apps your child’s elementary school will be making use of, it is worth considering what kind of operating system and apps can potentially run. For example, laptops running Chrome OS known as Chromebooks are capable of running programs like Microsoft Office and apps from both Android and Google. Laptops that use Microsoft Windows 10 as their operating system offer impressive parental controls so that their vast library of apps cannot download age-inappropriate content.
Though a conventional laptop will serve your child’s elementary school career for years to come, it’s well worth considering a two-in-one laptop/tablet PC. If you want your child to see what laptops are truly capable of, imagine their joy at being able to make their own artwork or take notes in class using a stylus or seeing their amazement at being able to transform their computer between a tablet and a conventional laptop.
Durability
Expensive technology and the inherent clumsiness of youth are a potent and often destructive combination that has led to the ruination of many laptops. As such, you should be sure that any laptop you purchase will prevent your child from experiencing unnecessary frustration and save you from having to buy a brand new laptop. Above all else, ensure that the laptop can withstand all the drops, scraps, spills and other damage that the unit will most likely incur.
Weight
Since the worries of elementary school students shouldn’t extend beyond what’s on the cafeteria menu and hanging out with friends at recess, they certainly don’t need a heavy laptop that slows them down. Modern times have made it even more crucial to have a laptop with a reliable webcam and that can easily connect to both Wi-Fi and ethernet for any online learning, especially when considering the global pandemic.
How much you can expect to spend on a laptop for elementary school
Though this may not be surprising, a decent laptop that will get your child through elementary school can easily cost you between $600-$1,000 or more. If you include other expenses like an extended warranty, increased RAM and processor upgrades, the costs can increase sharply.
Best laptop for medical school FAQ
How long will my child’s new laptop last?
A. Your child’s school will likely have the minimum laptop requirements available for your convenience, but the latest generation will surpass a typical laptop in approximately four years.
What software should I purchase for elementary school?
A. Setting up your child with basic programs, including Microsoft Office Suite and the Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader, will only help set them up for future success. Though, it is likely you will have to install specific software as directed by your child’s middle school.
What’s the best laptop for elementary school to buy?
Top laptop for elementary school
Microsoft Surface Go 2
What you need to know: Give your child a laptop that weighs barely over a pound while commanding some of the best technology available.
What you’ll love: It is capable of restoring 80% of maximum battery life in 1 1/2 hours, as well as including the Digital Pen and a 10.5-inch touchscreen.
What you should consider: Users have reported issues with Wi-Fi connectivity and downloading necessary software updates.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top laptop for elementary school for the money
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 10.1-Inch 2-in-1 Laptop
What you need to know: This laptop will boot up in a matter of seconds, so your child will never need to wait for load times.
What you’ll love: It comes with a 10.1-inch FHD IPS display.
What you should consider: Users have reported issues integrating Google Chrome and Android programs and noted the lack of a USB port compared to other models.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Acer Spin 3 Convertible Laptop
What you need to know: The newest iteration of Acer’s popular Spin series has very impressive capabilities.
What you’ll love: It comes with the 10th Generation Intel Core i5-1035G1, 14-inch FHD Widescreen IPS LED touchscreen and fingerprint sensor.
What you should consider: Some users have reported this unit spontaneously failing after several months.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Daniel Martin writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | www.wavy.com | Best laptop for elementary school | https://www.wavy.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/laptop-computers-br/best-laptop-for-elementary-school/ |
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[
"Jim Morris",
"Associated Press",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:46:37+00:00 | 2021-08-19 07:19:24 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fbusiness%2Fcanadian-judge-reserves-decision-on-huawei-cfo-extradition%2F.json | en | Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei, leaves home to attend what is expected to be the final day of her extradition hearing at B.C. Supreme Court, in Vancouver, on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — A Canadian judge reserved her decision Wednesday on whether a senior executive for Chinese communications giant Huawei Technologies should be extradited to the U.S. after a Canadian Justice Department lawyer wrapped up his case by saying there’s enough evidence to show she was dishonest and deserves to stand trial in the U.S.
Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes said that on Oct. 21 she will likely announce when she will rule on whether Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer for Huawei’s Technologies and daughter of its founder, will be extradited.
Meng was arrested at Vancouver’s airport in late 2018 at the request of U.S. authorities. Her arrest infuriated Beijing, which sees her case as a political move designed to prevent China’s rise.
The U.S. wants Meng extradited to face fraud charges, alleging she committed fraud by misleading the HSBC bank about the company’s business dealings in Iran. It accuses Huawei of using a Hong Kong shell company called Skycom to sell equipment to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions.
Defense lawyers have argued there isn’t enough evidence to justify her extradition.
But in his final submissions, Justice Department lawyer Robert Frater disputed defense claims there is no evidence Meng made any misrepresentations that put the bank at risk of violating sanctions.
“We say there is a strong case here Ms. Meng was dishonest,” Frater said. “We met our burden.”
By not disclosing Huawei’s true relationship with Skycom, Meng put HSBC at risk of violating U.S. sanctions against Iran, he said.
“HSBC was deprived of a fair opportunity to take the action it needed to take,” Frater told the judge.
He said Meng was honest in parts of her meeting with an HSBC executive, but she didn’t tell “the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”
Frater said the defense is trying to “blame the victim” in saying it was the bank’s decision to transfer money from Skycom through the U.S.
China’s government has criticized the arrest as part of U.S. efforts to hamper its technology development. Huawei, a maker of network equipment and smartphones, is China’s first global tech brand and is at the center of U.S.-Chinese tension over technology and the security of information systems.
Meng, who attended the hearing wearing an electronic monitoring device on her ankle, followed the proceedings through a translator.
Whatever the judge’s decision, it will likely be appealed.
The case has soured relations between Canada and China.
Entrepreneur Michael Spavor and a former Canadian diplomat were detained in what critics labeled “hostage politics” after Huawei’s Meng Wanzhou was arrested Dec. 1, 2018, at the Vancouver airport. They were were arrested in China in apparent retaliation for Meng’s arrest.
A Chinese court this month sentenced Spavor to 11 years in prison for spying.
In another case, the Higher People’s Court of Liaoning province in northeast China rejected an appeal by Canadian Robert Schellenberg, whose 15-year prison term on drug smuggling charges was increased to death in January 2019 following Meng’s arrest.
Meng remains free on bail in Vancouver and is living in a mansion.
Beijing denies there is a connection between Meng’s case and the arrests of Spavor and Kovrig, but Chinese officials and state media frequently mention the two men in relation to whether or not Meng is allowed to return to China.
Canada and other countries, including Australia and the Philippines, face trade boycotts and other Chinese pressure in disputes with Beijing over human rights, the coronavirus and control of the South China Sea. The United States has warned American travelers face a “heightened risk of arbitrary detention” in China for reasons other than to enforce laws.
China has tried to pressure Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government by imposing restrictions on imports of canola seed oil and other products from Canada.
Meanwhile, Beijing is blocking imports of Australian wheat, wine and other products after its government called for an investigation into the origin of the coronavirus pandemic. | www.wavy.com | Canadian judge reserves decision on Huawei CFO extradition | https://www.wavy.com/news/business/canadian-judge-reserves-decision-on-huawei-cfo-extradition/ |
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[
"Mark Stevenson",
"Evens Sanon",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:50:49+00:00 | 2021-08-19 16:49:13 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fgangs-abduct-2-doctors-in-haiti-including-a-needed-surgeon%2F.json | en | People injured in a car accident, sitting right, wait with others injured during the earthquake for x-rays at the General Hospital in Les Cayes, Haiti, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
LES CAYES, Haiti (AP) — Two doctors at hospitals treating earthquake victims in Haiti’s capital have been kidnapped, forcing one of the institutions to declare a two-day shutdown in protest, officials said Thursday.
The abductions Tuesday and Wednesday dealt a major blow to attempts to control criminal violence that has threatened disaster response efforts in Port-au-Prince.
Dr. Workens Alexandre, who was seized, was among the country’s few orthopedic surgeons, desperately needed for quake victims with broken limbs. An official at the Bernard Mevs Hospital said 45 of the 48 quake victims being treated at the facility needed orthopedic surgery.
Gangs in the rough Martissant neighborhood on the capital’s outskirts had announced a truce earlier in the week to allow aid efforts to go through to the southwestern part of Haiti, which was hit hardest by Saturday’s earthquake.
It was unclear if those gangs were involved in the latest abductions, but the founder of the DASH network of affordable hospitals, Dr. Ronald La Roche, said criminals have engaged in kidnappings far beyond Martissant.
The Tuesday kidnapping of another doctor, an obstetrician who was on his way to perform an emergency cesarean delivery, occurred in Petionville, long considered one of the safer and wealthier areas of the capital. The doctor’s patient and her child both died due to the delay in treatment.
“We are furious at these people,” La Roche said of the kidnappers. “They are responsible for the death of this woman and her child.”
Of the supposed truce with gangs in Martissant, he said, “We cannot depend on that.”
“We feel that the gangsters are getting more daring,” said La Roche, whose network of eight hospitals and clinics were closing to nonemergency cases in protest of the kidnapping.
The DASH hospitals are treating 27 earthquake victims, and they — and any emergency cases — will continue to receive care.
Kidnappers have contacted the families of both doctors, but there is no information on ransom demands.
The official at the Bernard Mevs Hospital, who asked not to be identified because of safety concerns, said the problem has gotten so bad that a program has been set up so that doctors can stay in hospital rooms for two or three days to avoid the risk of travel.
The quake killed nearly 2,200 people and injured more than 12,000. The abductions in Port-au- Prince directly affect the transfer of patients from overwhelmed hospitals in the quake zone.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry, himself the former head of neurosurgery at Bernard Mevs Hospital, had already recognized that the government cannot depend on the gang truce.
“I have already given orders that for traveling from Port-au-Prince to the south, security be provided on the route from Martissant to the worst hit areas,” he said Wednesday.
Meanwhile a group of 18 Colombian volunteer search-and-rescue workers had to be escorted out of the quake-hit city of Jeremie under police protection after a rumor circulated that they had been involved in the July 7 assassination of President Jovenel Moise.
That killing, which is still unsolved, is suspected of being carried out by a group of Colombian mercenaries.
The Colombians rescuers had arrived only a day before. Local news outlets reported that a Jeremie city council member went on a radio station and incited people to go after the Colombian team, whose members had patches on their uniforms with the colors of the country’s flag. The rescuers took refuge at a civil defense office.
They were later taken to the local airport under police protection, said Wadson Montisino Cledanon, head of the Jeremie civil protection office.
___
This story has been edited to correct the spelling of the prime minister’s last name. | www.wavy.com | Gangs abduct 2 doctors in Haiti, including a needed surgeon | https://www.wavy.com/news/world/gangs-abduct-2-doctors-in-haiti-including-a-needed-surgeon/ |
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[
"Anne D'Innocenzio",
"Associated Press",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:47:04+00:00 | 2021-08-19 11:45:22 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fbusiness%2Fmacys-ups-outlook-after-bounce-back-second-quarter%2F.json | en | FILE – In this July 14, 2021 file photo, pedestrians pass the Macy’s store in the Downtown Crossing shopping area, in Boston. Americans cut back on their spending last month as a surge in COVID-19 cases kept people away from stores. Retail sales fell a seasonal adjusted 1.1% in July from the month before, the U.S. Commerce Department said Tuesday, Aug. 17. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — A return, at least temporarily, to near normalcy is giving a boost two of America’s largest department stores hit hard by the pandemic last year.
Macy’s and Kohl’s raised their projections for 2021 Thursday after easily beating expectations in the just-ended second quarter. Americans are going back to stores again to buy dresses, luggage and other goods that fell to the bottom of the priority list last year when the pandemic struck.
“We are emerging from the pandemic, a stronger company than we were before it began in the second quarter, ” said Macy’s CEO and Chairman Jeff Gennette.
Shares surged 20%.
Major retailers are rolling out quarterly earnings reports this week and next, and the data so far has consistently pointed to a return to almost normal behavior by U.S. shoppers. That means the explosion of online shopping during the pandemic is easing, with more people heading to stores.
Macy’s online sales fell 6% compared with last year when they surged 53% in the same time frame last year. Still, online sales were up 45% when compared with the second quarter in 2019, so some changes may be here to stay.
COVID-19 is still everywhere, however, and there are other potential headwinds emerging.
Retailers are now monitoring the spread of the delta variant, which has led to more mask mandates. They’re also grappling with higher prices just as government stimulus and other benefits, which helped energize spending, fade. Snarled supply chains are still snarled and companies can’t find workers.
And prepandemic threats for traditional department stores are still there, such as alternative clothing chains like T.J. Maxx and online sellers, too. On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon plans to open several large physical retail locations in the U.S. similar to department stores. It quoted unnamed sources familiar with the matter.
Former Macy’s CEO Terry Lundgren said in a CNBC interview Thursday that he believes physical locations would cut down on the number of returns for Amazon, particularly with clothing, a huge expense.
Amazon would not comment on The Wall Street Journal report.
Macy’s reported earnings of $345 million, or $1.08 per share in the three-month period ended July 31. Adjusted earnings were $1.29 per share, far above the 23 cents industry analysts had expected, according to FactSet.
Last year, Macy’s lost $431 million in the same period.
Revenue rose nearly 60% to $5.64 billion, better than the $5.01 billion Wall Street projected.
Macy’s now expects sales for the year of between $23.5 billion and $23.95 billion, which is better than Wall Street is expecting. Adjusted earnings are expected to be between $3.41 and $3.75 per share, up from $1.71 to $2.12.
Kohl’s reported earnings of $382 million, or $2.48, for the three-month period ended July 31, topping analyst expectations of $1.26. Revenue rose 31% to $4.22 billion, also better than expected.
The first group of what will eventually be hundreds of Sephora shops at Kohl’s are doing well, said CEO Michelle Gass.
A partnership with Amazon that allows customers to return items at Kohl’s locations has also created new customers for the department store, said Gass.
The news of potential brick-and-mortar stores for Amazon would not threaten that partnership, Gass said.
“Both partners continue to be very pleased with our relationship, “ she said. “We see that moving forward into the future. “
Kohl’s now expects annual sales to increase in the low-twenties percentage range compared with previous projections of mid-to-high teens. Adjusted earnings per share is projected to be between $5.80 and $6.10.
Shares of Kohl’s Corp., based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, rose nearly 8%
_____
AP Business Writer Joe Pisani contributed to this report.
Follow Anne D’Innocenzio on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ADInnocenzio | www.wavy.com | Brighter outlook from Macy’s, Kohl’s after sales bounce back | https://www.wavy.com/news/business/macys-ups-outlook-after-bounce-back-second-quarter/ |
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[
"The Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:51:49+00:00 | 2021-08-19 05:36:58 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fthe-latest-biden-to-keep-troops-in-until-us-evacuees-out%2F.json | en | Taliban fighters pose for photograph in Wazir Akbar Khan in the city of Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. The Taliban declared an “amnesty” across Afghanistan and urged women to join their government Tuesday, seeking to convince a wary population that they have changed a day after deadly chaos gripped the main airport as desperate crowds tried to flee the country. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
WASHINGTON — Amid the chaos and confusion at the airport, the United States said it had taken at least one step to ease requirements for those seeking to leave: COVID-19 tests.
Although Afghanistan had been a hotspot for the coronavirus pandemic, the State Department said Thursday that evacuees are not required to get a negative COVID-19 result to travel.
“A blanket humanitarian waiver has been implemented for COVID testing for all persons the U.S. government is relocating from Afghanistan,” the department said.
It referred questions about how the matter would be handled once evacuees arrive in the United States to the Department of Health and Human Services. Medical exams, including coronavirus tests, had been required for evacuees prior to Taliban’s weekend takeover of Kabul, which added extra urgency to efforts to get at-risk Afghans out of the country.
___
MORE ON THE CRISIS IN AFGHANISTAN:
— Taliban suppress more dissen t as economic challenges loom
— Afghan president latest leaderon the run to turn up in UAE
— US struggling to speed Kabul airlift amid hurdles, glitches
— Afghanistan war unpopular amid chaotic pullout: AP-NORC poll
— Afghan officer who fought with US forces rescued from Kabul
— Misread warningshelped lead to chaotic Afghan evacuation
— Afghans plead for faster US evacuationfrom Taliban rule
___
— Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/afghanistan
___
HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
___
BERLIN — German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle says the Taliban shot and killed a family member of one of their reporters in Afghanistan and severely injured a second family member.
The broadcaster said in a statement on Thursday that Taliban fighters were looking for the Deutsche Welle reporter and searching homes in western Afghanistan. It said other family members managed to escape.
Deutsche Well says the reporter himself, whose identity was not revealed, is already based in Germany where he is also working. Deutsche Welle didn’t give further details on the killed and injured family members or say where and when exactly in Afghanistan the killing took place.
The director of Deutsche Welle, Peter Limbourg, sharply condemned the killing saying that, “the killing of a close family member of one of our journalists by the Taliban is incredible tragic and a proof for the imminent danger that all of our workers and their families are exposed to in Afghanistan.”
He added: “The Taliban are obviously conducting organized searches for journalists in Kabul and the provinces. Time is running out.”
Limbourg added that the homes of at least three other Deutsche Welle reporters were searched by the Taliban in Afghanistan in recent days and weeks.
___
UNITED NATIONS — The head of the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies is calling on the U.N. Security Council to seriously and urgently consider declaring Kabul “a safe zone” and sending a U.N. peacekeeping force to protect it.
Davood Moradian said in a briefing to the council on Thursday that this would allow Afghanistan’s rival factions to come to an inclusive political settlement “while working to mitigate the unfolding catastrophe.”
He told members by video from an undisclosed location outside Afghanistan that he was at Kabul airport 48 hours ago watching the chaos and “the unfolding catastrophe” as he and others tried to get flights out of Afghanistan and people were racing down the runway trying to get on a U.S. military plane.
“It was shared human desperation, helplessness and fear,” Moradian said. He said one passenger who fell to the ground from the plane “was reportedly a member of Afghanistan’s national football team.”
Moradian said the Taliban takeover is not the end of the military and political crisis in Afghanistan. The past four decades have shown, he said, that “a military solution is just a brief pause to the next phase of the war.”
___
VICTORIA, Canada — Canada’s prime minister says Canadian Armed Forces assets and personnel have arrived on the ground in Afghanistan to co-ordinate at the tactical level with the United States and other allied partners.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday that this will help get Canadians, Afghans and their families to safety. Trudeau says two CAF C-17s will make regular flights into Kabul to support evacuation efforts.
___
WASHINGTON — Federal officials will allow U.S. airlines and other aircraft operators to make evacuation flights into Kabul if they get permission in advance from the Pentagon.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a notice to pilots that spelled out details on Thursday.
“Due to a lack of high altitude air traffic control services, U.S. operators and pilots must receive authorization from the FAA to overfly Afghanistan,” the FAA said in a statement. “Any U.S. or foreign operator flying into Hamid Karzai International Airport must obtain prior permission from the U.S. Department of Defense.”
The main U.S. airlines that fly long-haul international flights did not immediately comment on whether they planned to operate evacuation flights.
___
UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. counterterrorism chief is urging the Security Council “to use all tools at its disposal to prevent Afghanistan from being used as a platform or safe haven for terrorism.”
He also notes that a recent U.N. report says the extremist Islamic State group has expanded its presence in Afghanistan.
Undersecretary-General Vladimir Voronkov reminded the 15-member council on Thursday that several members of the Taliban, which took over the country last weekend, remain on the U.N. sanctions blacklist as “designated terrorists.” He also noted concerns by some council nations at the Taliban’s release of prisoners affiliated with al-Qaida and IS, also known by its Arabic acronym Daesh.
The counterterrorism chief said IS militants remain focused on reconstituting their former control in Iraq and Syria, waging an insurgency against security forces.
“However, it is the lack of a comprehensive solution to the situation of thousands of individuals with alleged links to Daesh who remain stranded in Iraq and Syria that could shape the future terrorist threat landscape over the medium to long term, not just locally but globally,” Voronkov said.
He said the pace of repatriations by member states is too slow “considering the scale of this humanitarian, human rights and strategic security priority, which only grows more complex as time passes.”
“And I think because of this development in Afghanistan, it could create even more dangerous environment in these camps with unpredictable consequences,” Voronkov warned.
___
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon says the U.S. military is ramping up evacuations out of Afghanistan, and that 7,000 civilians have been taken out of the country since August 14.
Army Maj. Gen. Hank Taylor told reporters that 12 C-17 aircraft departed with 2,000 evacuees over the past 24 hours. Speaking at a Pentagon briefing Thursday, Taylor said the military now has enough aircraft to get 5,000-9,000 people out a day, depending on how many have been processed and other factors, such as weather.
There are now about 5,200 U.S. troops at the airport, a number that has been steadily increasing in recent days.
“We are ready to increase throughout,” said Taylor. His comments came amid ongoing chaos at the Kabul airport as Afghans and other civilians desperately try to get on flights out of the country in the wake of the Taliban takeover on Sunday.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said there has been no Taliban violence against U.S. personnel, and that the U.S. hasn’t seen the group obstruct American citizens trying to leave. There have been widespread reports of Taliban violence against Afghans, including efforts to prevent them from getting to the airport.
He declined to say whether Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin believes it will be necessary to continue the operation beyond August 31. And he said there have been no discussions with the Taliban for an extension.
President Joe Biden has said he will continue military evacuations of Americans until all those who want to leave are evacuated.
___
LONDON — Police say a five-year-old boy who fell to his death from a hotel in the north England city of Sheffield was an Afghan refugee.
South Yorkshire Police have appealed for information following the boy’s death in what was reported to be a fall from the ninth floor of Sheffield’s Metropolitan Hotel at around 2.30pm on Wednesday.
According to local media, the boy arrived in the U.K. with his family a few weeks ago, before arriving in Sheffield earlier this week.
The boy’s father is reported to have worked in the British Embassy in Kabul.
Local media said the other eight to 10 Afghan families staying at the hotel were being moved to another.
Like others, Britain is trying to evacuate its own nationals as well as Afghan allies after the Taliban seized control 20 years after being driven from power by a U.S.-led international force following the 9/11 attacks.
Following the tragedy, the Refugee Council has called for a review of accommodation offered to those fleeing the Taliban.
___
ROME — Italian Premier Mario Draghi and Russian President Vladimir Putin have together analyzed the “situation on the ground” in Afghanistan as well as its regional implications, Draghi’s office said.
During Thursday’s phone call, the two leaders “also assessed guidelines that could inspire action of the international community” in various contexts with the aim to “restore Afghanistan’s stability, fight terrorism and illegal trafficking and protect women’s rights,’’ a statement from the office said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is due to meet with Draghi and with his Italian counterpart next week in Rome, with Afghanistan high on the geo-political matters on the agenda.
Draghi on Thursday also discussed the Afghan crisis with French President Emmanuel Macron, including “management of the migration flows and the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms” in the country.
___
PARIS — French non-governmental groups, lawyers and activists are asking President Emmanuel Macron take bold action to welcome Afghan migrants fleeing their Taliban-run country.
“We demand simplification of the immigration procedure, a faster reunion of families, a broad and long-term resettling of Afghan families seeking asylum, and the end of all expulsions toward Afghanistan,” Henry Masson, the president of La Cimade, a French NGO advocating for undocumented people, told The Associated Press on Thursday.
La Cimade is among six NGOs and unions circulating a petition to make those demands heard. It has been signed by more than 11,000 people so far.
France, which withdrew its military from Afghanistan in 2014, has brought out about 400 people from Kabul on three evacuation flights this week, primarily Afghans who worked with the French government or French groups in Afghanistan. But many more are trying to flee, fearing reprisals from the Taliban for their work with Western organizations.
Macron said Monday that France would “do its duty to protect those who are most at risk,” but also said Europeans must “protect ourselves against significant irregular migratory flows.”
___
ISLAMABAD — A delegation of prominent Afghan leaders and officials has warned that a Taliban government will not survive for long if it repeats past mistakes.
The delegation, headed by Afghan parliament speaker, Mir Rehman Rehmani, spoke to reporters in Islamabad on Thursday, after meeting Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and other government and military officials this week. The Afghans arrived in the Pakistani capital on Monday, a day after the Taliban swept into Kabul and took over Afghanistan.
A former Afghan vice president, Mohammad Younis Qanooni, said the future government in Afghanistan should be inclusive, with the participation of all ethnic groups.
“We oppose a rule by one party or group,” he said.
Khalid Noor, a prominent politician, said the Taliban cannot rule by force in Afghanistan. He says they have taken power by force, but warned their rule would be short-lived if they didn’t respect the rights of the people.
Other members of the Afghan delegation include Salahud-din-Rabbani, Ahmad Zia Massoud and Ahmad Wali Massoud.
___
MOSCOW — Russia has blamed Afghanistan’s president for precipitating the Taliban takeover of the country by dragging his feet on negotiating a comprehensive peace deal.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had “every opportunity over the past three years to ensure the success of an inter-Afghan peace process and help a gradual formation of an inclusive government involving all ethnic and political factions.”
She added that Ghani, who fled the country just as the Taliban swept into Kabul on Sunday in a lightning offensive, had missed the chance for a peaceful settlement and “bears responsibility for what happened.”
Moscow long has been critical of Ghani, accusing him of stonewalling proposals for an inclusive government during the protracted talks with the Taliban and other Afghan factions in the past.
___
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said on Thursday that more than 300 locally hired people, interpreters, employees of non-governmental organizations and family members have been evacuated from Afghanistan.
The 320 people have been flown to Islamabad, Pakistan, from where they will fly in two planes to Denmark on Friday. He declined to say what nationalities they were.
Earlier in the day, a plane with 84 people evacuated from Afghanistan landed in Copenhagen. Danish media said that those aboard the plane reportedly were locally hired people and interpreters who had worked for Denmark. No further details were available.
___
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden says the Taliban have not changed but are going through an “existential crisis” about whether they want legitimacy on the global stage as they’ve taken over Afghanistan.
In an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Biden said that he’s “not sure” the Taliban want to be “recognized by the international community as being a legitimate government.”
He also said that the threat from al-Qaida and their affiliate organizations is “greater in other parts of the world than it is in Afghanistan, adding that it’s “not rational” to ignore the “looming problems” posed by al-Qaida affiliates in Syria or East Africa, where he said the threat to the U.S. is “significantly greater.”
“We should be focusing on where the threat is the greatest,” Biden said, in defense of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Biden also pushed back against concerns about the treatment of women and girls in the country, arguing that it’s “not rational” to try to protect women’s rights around the globe through military force. Instead, it should be done through “diplomatic and international pressure” on human rights abusers to change their behavior.
___
MOSCOW — Russia has offered to provide its aircraft to fly Afghans willing to leave the country to any nations willing to host them.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that Moscow would be ready to offer its planes to airlift “any number of Afghan citizens, including women and children to any foreign countries that would be interested in accommodating them.”
Zakharova’s statement came as thousands of Afghans are desperate to flee the country fearing that the Taliban will reimpose a brutal rule after taking over Kabul on Sunday.
Afghans and aid organizations have said that people desperate to leave are having a hard time getting past the Taliban and into Kabul’s international airport. Military evacuation flights have continued at the airport, but Taliban militants fired shots in the air on Thursday to try to control the crowds.
___
WARSAW, Poland — The Polish government says it has evacuated its last citizens from Afghanistan.
Marcin Przydacz, a deputy foreign minister, said on Thursday that “at the moment, all Poles with whom we had contact have left Afghanistan.” However, he also said he couldn’t exclude the possibility that others might still appear.
The evacuations being carried out so far by Polish authorities have included Poles and “people who actively worked for a democratic Afghanistan in cooperation with Poland,” Przydacz said.
___
PRAGUE — The Czech leaders declared the country’s effort to evacuate the Czech nationals and the Afghans who have worked with them a mission accomplished.
Three Czech evacuation flights in three days transported almost 200 people from Kabul to Prague by Wednesday night.
Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek says 170 Afghan nationals were among them, including all the local staffers at the Czech Embassy in Kabul and interpreters who helped the Czech armed forces during NATO missions and their families. Also, the Afghans who have a permanent residency in the Czech Republic were included.
Four Afghans were transported at the request of another European Union member state Slovakia. Czech embassy staff and two Polish nationals were also evacuated.
“We’ve saved everyone we wanted to,” Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Thursday. “The mission has been accomplished.”
A Czech NGO that helps army veterans says several interpreters with families who have helped the Czechs still need to be rescued.
Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek says that a possible transport in such cases will be coordinated with the allies.
Kulhanek said the successful rescue operation was “a big miracle.” He described the situation in Afghanistan as “a total and unexpected collapse… a tragedy that nobody could be ready for.”
___
ISTANBUL — A top Afghan official says he and other top officials left Kabul on Monday on board a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul with the help of the Turkish Embassy.
Babur Farahmand, deputy chief of Afghanistan High Council for National Reconciliation, told The Associated Press in Istanbul that other senior officials on board the flight included Second Vice President Sarwar Danish, Foreign Minister Hanif Atmar, intelligence chief Ahmad Zia Saraj, former foreign minister and politician Rangin Dadfar Spanta.
Farahmand said he and some other officials reached the Hamid Karzai International Airport’s military airfield in Kabul on Sunday evening. They spent the night inside the military compound waiting for the flight. Various countries facilitated the Afghan officials’ entry into airport but Turkish government facilitated the flight, he said.
Earlier, Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper reported that as many as 40 Afghan officials arrived in Istanbul on Monday on board a Turkish Airlines flight. The plane with 324 passengers on board, took off from Kabul with several hours of delay due to the chaos at the airport.
___
MOSCOW — Russia’s top diplomat on Thursday reiterated a call for a broad dialogue between all political forces in Afghanistan, noting that the Taliban do not control “the entire territory” of Afghanistan yet.
Speaking at a news conference in Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pointed to “reports … about the situation in the Panjshir Valley, where the resistance forces of Afghan Vice President (Amrullah) Saleh and Ahman Massod have been gathering.”
He said that it makes Moscow’s stance on the necessity of a dialogue between all rival forces and groups even more consistent. Russia has been calling for one when “all of Afghanistan was engulfed in a civil war,” and continues to urge it now, “when the Taliban have taken power in Kabul, in the majority of other cities, in the majority of Afghanistan’s provinces.”
“We support the same thing — a nationwide dialogue”″ that will lead to a representative government, Lavrov said. “”This, with the support of Afghan citizens, will work out agreements on the final make-up of this long-suffering country.”
Earlier this week, the minister stressed that Moscow was “in no rush” to recognize the Taliban as the new rulers of Afghanistan. Russia had labeled the Taliban a terrorist organization in 2003, but has since hosted several rounds of talks in Afghanistan, most recently in March, that involved the group.
Moscow, which fought a 10-year war in Afghanistan that ended with Soviet troops’ withdrawal in 1989, has made a diplomatic comeback as a mediator, reaching out to feuding Afghan factions and cultivating ties with the Taliban as it has jockeyed with the U.S. for influence in the country.
___
ROME — A plane carrying some 202 Afghans, including an activist and medical researchers affiliated with an Italian think-tank, have arrived in Rome in the latest airlift fleeing the country overtaken by the Taliban.
The Italian foreign ministry said Italy was committed to evacuating “those who collaborated with Italy and who are threatened, such as women and children.”
One of the passengers was Zahra Ahmadi, whose brother lives in Venice and apparently helped rally diplomatic efforts to get her out. Other passengers were affiliated with the Veronesi Foundation, which supports medical research, especially for women, and hosted Afghan doctors in the past.
Italy has been flying groups of Afghans out at a clip of two or more flights a day, transferring them to a plane in Kuwait and then onto Rome. The new arrivals are then tested for the coronavirus and placed in mandatory quarantine, as called for by current Italian health regulations.
Italy had one of the largest military contingents during the two-decade NATO and U.S.-led operation in Afghanistan.
___
BUDAPEST, Hungary — More than two dozen Hungarian nationals evacuated from Kabul arrived in Frankfurt, Germany early Thursday, and will likely be transported to Hungary later in the day, deputy foreign minister Levente Magyar told reporters.
The air evacuation of the 26 Hungarians was carried out by Hungary’s military allies with a stopover in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. The evacuees had worked as private security contractors at the Dutch embassy in Kabul before the city’s takeover by the Taliban. Magyar did not say which allies were involved in the operation.
A separate evacuation mission was launched from Hungary early Thursday, which will attempt to recover other Hungarians still in Afghanistan and some Afghan citizens who assisted Hungarian military forces, Magyar said. Not all of the Hungarian citizens awaiting evacuation have yet made it to Kabul airport, he added.
___
LONDON — Britain’s foreign secretary is rejecting calls to resign for not interrupting his holiday on the Greek island of Crete to make a call to help translators flee Afghanistan.
According to the Daily Mail newspaper, Dominic Raab did not call his Afghan counterpart Hanif Atmar on Friday after officials suggested he “urgently” do so in order to arrange help for those who supported British troops.
Two days later, the Taliban captured Kabul and Raab cut short his holiday and headed back to the U.K. to deal with the crisis.
Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told BBC radio that the suggested phone call would not have made “any difference whatsoever” given the Afghan government was “melting away quicker than ice.”
Keir Starmer, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, said on Twitter: “Who wouldn’t make a phone call if they were told it could save somebody’s life?”
Lisa Nandy, Labour’s foreign affairs spokesperson, was one of many to call for Raab’s resignation after what she described as “yet another catastrophic failure of judgment.”
On entering 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office, Raab was asked if he would resign. In response, he said “no.”
___
BEIRUT — An al-Qaida-linked group in Syria is congratulating the people of Afghanistan for the “dear victory” achieved by the Taliban.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or the Levant Liberation Committee, compared the Taliban’s control of much of Afghanistan with the early Muslim conquests.
The group, also known as HTS, is the most powerful faction in rebel-held parts of northwest Syria. Over the past months it has been working on improving its image by distancing itself from extremist ideology.
Some of the founding members of the group — which used to be known as the Nusra Front — include Arab commanders who were close to Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan. Many of them were killed in U.S. drone attacks in Syria over the past years.
In 2017, Brett McGurk, then top U.S. envoy for the coalition battling the Islamic State group, said that Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib had become the largest al-Qaida haven since Afghanistan in bin Laden’s days.
In a statement released late Wednesday, HTS said “no matter how long it takes, righteousness will end up victorious.” It added: “Occupiers don’t last on usurped lands no matter how much they harm its people.”
HTS said it hopes that insurgents in Syria will be also victorious by learning from the experience of the Taliban to remove the government of President Bashar Assad, its adversary in the country’s 10-year conflict.
___
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — The first evacuation flight from Kabul organized by the Slovak government has landed in Slovakia.
Foreign Minister Ivan Korcok says a total of 20 passengers were onboard, 16 Slovak nationals and four Afghans among them, including a 10-month old baby. It was the full capacity of the military transport plane.
Four other Afghan nationals who were working with the Slovak armed forces were transported onboard of a Czech evacuation flight and flown to Slovakia overnight.
Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad said the members of Slovak army’s special forces had to use weapons to secure the passengers’ safe transport to the plane. He cited a deteriorating situation at the airport but declined to give details.
Prime Minister Eduard Heger says his country is coordinating further steps with allies.
___
WARSAW, Poland — A second airplane carrying people evacuated from Afghanistan has landed in Warsaw.
The plane landed on Thursday morning, following one that brought people late Wednesday.
Poland has deployed 100 soldiers to Afghanistan to help with the evacuations of Polish and Afghan citizens. Those evacuated are first transported to Uzbekistan by military transport and then brought to Poland on civilian airliners.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has shared images on Facebook of some of those being evacuated.
___
ROME — Two more Italian C130s have brought nearly 200 Afghan citizens out of Kabul, as Italy continues its evacuation of people who worked with Italian forces and their families following the Taliban takeover of the country.
The Defense Ministry said the passengers aboard the two flights were transferring Thursday to other aircraft in Kuwait, and from there would continue onto Rome.
Italy has vowed to evacuate as many Afghans as it can, particularly those who worked with Italian forces during the nearly two-decade long NATO and U.S.-led operation in the country.
With the arrival in Rome later Thursday of the latest evacuees Italy says it will have airlifted out some 500 Afghans.
___
KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghanistan’s steel factories’ association is concerned scrap metal smuggling abroad has increased and exhausted supplies, putting thousands of workers at risk of losing their jobs.
Abdul Nasir Reshtia, chief executive of the association says that with borders reopening, Afghanistan’s scrap metal is being smuggled once again to neighboring countries.
Reshtia warns that in next ten days, the smuggling will push factories to close as they cannot operate without scrap metal.
Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had banned the export of scrap metal to support Afghan steel factories so they could compete with imported steel from neighboring countries.
Reshtia says that he has not been able to reach the Taliban leadership to share his concerns.
___
BUCHAREST, Romania — Romania’s foreign ministry says that a military aircraft has evacuated a single Romanian citizen from Kabul airport to Islamabad.
It said in a statement that “the particularly difficult security conditions in Kabul meant that the access of other groups of Romanian citizens to the airport could not be achieved.”
The C-130 Hercules aircraft, which evacuated a NATO employee on Wednesday evening, had military personnel and a mobile consular team onboard ready to provide “specialized assistance.” It is set to return to Kabul airport to continue evacuating Romanian citizens, officials said.
Authorities said that at the time of the operation there were 33 Romanian citizens registered as present in Afghanistan.
___
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A Dutch military transport plane has arrived in Amsterdam carrying people evacuated from Kabul.
The Ministry of Defense says that a C-17 plane landed late Wednesday night at Schiphol airport. On board were 35 Dutch nationals along with citizens from Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom.
The government says it has now airlifted 50 Dutch nationals out of Kabul. A Dutch consular crisis team along with dozens of troops to protect the personnel flew into the Afghan capital on Wednesday.
___
BRUSSELS — The European Union said Thursday that 106 staff members of EU delegations and their families had safely left Afghanistan but said that some 300 still remained behind.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Thursday that the first plane with EU staff had landed in Madrid, from where they will be relocated among the 27 EU member states.
“There are still 300 more Afghani staff of European Union delegations blocked on the streets of Kabul trying to reach the airport and trying to have a seat on some of the European Union member state flights,” Borrell told a EU parliament committee.
He insisted that “these people have loyally promoted and defended the union’s interests and values in Afghanistan over many years,” adding that it was the EU’s “moral duty to protect them and to have to save as many people as possible.”
___
MADRID — Spain has evacuated 53 people from Afghanistan on its first flight to airlift Spanish citizens and Afghan workers and their families from Kabul.
The military cargo plane landed at an airport near Madrid on Thursday morning with five Spaniards and 48 Afghans on board. An unspecified number of children were included.
Spain has two more planes prepared to continue with the evacuation of Afghan workers and their families.
All the passengers received a COVID-19 test on arrival and were attended by police so that they could ask for “international protection,” the government said in a statement.
The airport also received a flight from the European Union External Action service with five Afghan families on board. Spain’s government has offered to take in additional evacuees from EU partners and care for them until they can be distributed to other countries of the bloc.
“We are still working to evacuate those Afghans who worked with Spain in the quickest manner possible and guarantee their security along with those people who have worked with the EU,” said Spanish Foreign Minister José Albares.
___
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Denmark says that a plane with 84 people who had been evacuated from Afghanistan has landed in Copenhagen and were now on “safe ground in Denmark.”
On Twitter, Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod wrote Thursday that the evacuation “is still in full swing and we are working hard to evacuate the last local staff, interpreters and other groups from Kabul.”
Danish media said that those aboard the plane reportedly were locally hired people and interpreters who had worked for Denmark. No further details were available.
___
WARSAW, Poland — Poland’s president has approved the deployment of a 100-person military contingent to Afghanistan to help secure the evacuation of Polish citizens and the citizens of other countries in coordination with allies.
President Andrzej Duda signed the order late Wednesday for the mission, and which is to last until Sept. 16.
Meanwhile, a first plane carrying a group of people who were evacuated from Afghanistan landed at Warsaw’s military airport late Wednesday, said Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak. The group was first taken from Kabul by military plane to Uzbekistan and from there was transported on to Warsaw.
Since Tuesday, Polish forces have been carrying out an operation to evacuate Poles and Afghans who previously cooperated with the Polish military or diplomatic mission or who helped otherwise with western groups.
Those who arrived in Warsaw will have to go into quarantine.
___
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has suspended all arms sales to the government of Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover of the country.
In a notice to defense contractors posted Wednesday, the State Department’s Political/Military Affairs Bureau said pending or undelivered arms transfers to Afghanistan had been put under review.
“In light of rapidly evolving circumstances in Afghanistan, the Directorate of Defense Sales Controls is reviewing all pending and issued export licenses and other approvals to determine their suitability in furthering world peace, national security and the foreign policy of the United States,” it said.
The notice said it would issue updates for defense equipment exporters in the coming days.
___
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden says he’s committed to keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan until every American is evacuated, even if that means maintaining a military presence there beyond his Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawal.
In an interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos on Wednesday, Biden said that the U.S. will do “everything in our power” to get Americans and U.S. allies in the nation out before the deadline. Pressed repeatedly on how the administration would help Americans left in the nation after Aug. 31, Biden finally affirmed, “if there’s American citizens left, we’re gonna stay till we get them all out.”
Up to 15,000 Americans remain in Afghanistan after the Taliban took full control of the nation. The Biden administration has received criticism for the scenes of violence and disorder in recent days as thousands attempted to flee while the Taliban advanced.
But during the same interview, Biden suggested there wasn’t anything the administration could’ve done to avoid such chaos. “The idea that somehow, there’s a way to have gotten out without chaos ensuing, I don’t know how that happens,” he said.
___
WASHINGTON — The International Monetary Fund says that the new Taliban government in Afghanistan will not at the current time be allowed to access loans or other resources from the 190-nation lending organization.
In a statement Wednesday, the IMF said it would be guided by the views of the international community.
The statement said, “There is currently a lack of clarity within the international community regarding recognition of a government in Afghanistan, as a consequence of which the country cannot access SDRs or other IMF resources.”
SDRs are special drawing rights which serve as a reserve that IMF member countries can tap into to meet payment obligations. | www.wavy.com | The Latest: US says Kabul evacuees don’t need COVID tests | https://www.wavy.com/news/world/the-latest-biden-to-keep-troops-in-until-us-evacuees-out/ |
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[
"Will Graves",
"Associated Press",
"Nathan Crawford",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Jason Marks"
] | 2021-08-20 01:55:04+00:00 | 2021-08-19 13:04:05 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fsports%2Fbiles-mental-health-advocacy-part-of-post-olympic-tour%2F.json | en | FILE – Simone Biles performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women’s apparatus final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, in this Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, file photo. Biles is at peace with her decision to opt out of several competitions at the Tokyo Olympics to focus on her mental health. The seven-time Olympic medalist is happy to spread the importance of putting the person ahead of the athlete, one of the themes of her fall exhibition tour that will feature four other members of the 2021 Olympic gymnastics team. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Simone Biles didn’t plan for her second Olympics to become a flashpoint in the evolving conversation about the role proper mental health plays in all levels of sports.
Then again, she’s hardly complaining. If anything, she’s leaning into it.
The American gymnastics star has no regrets about her decision to opt-out of five of the six finals in Tokyo because of a mental block, calling it a small price to pay if it lets others realize they retain the right to say “it’s OK not to be OK” no matter how bright the spotlight.
“I wouldn’t change anything for the world,” said Biles, who left Japan with a silver medal from the team competition and an individual bronze on balance beam. “I gave an outlet for athletes to speak up about their mental health and their well-being and learn that you can put yourself (as a person) first before the athlete.”
It’s a message that will be part of the post-Olympic Gold Over America Tour Biles is headlining this fall. The 35-city exhibition, which kicks off in Tucson, Arizona, on Sept. 21, will incorporate gymnastics and dance elements but also feature a segment led by former UCLA gymnast Katelyn Ohashi on the importance of taking care of yourself mentally.
“We wanted to make it as relatable as possible and let these kids know that we’ve been going through these things,” Biles said.
Biles will be joined on Tour by Olympic teammates Jordan Chiles and Grace McCallum as well as MyKayla Skinner and Jade Carey. Chiles and McCallum earned a silver in the team competition while Skinner won silver on vault andCarey earned gold on floor exercise. Biles qualified for the finals on all four apparatuses in Japan but pulled out of three of them to deal with “the twisties,” meaning she lost her air awareness and didn’t feel it was safe to compete.
She returned to capture a bronze on beam, tying her with Shannon Miller for the most career Olympic medals by an American gymnast (seven). Asked if she had any clarity on what might have brought on “the twisties,” Biles thinks it may have been the buildup of various issues she’s faced over the last several years.
“I mean, I’m in therapy. I go to therapy pretty religiously,” she said. “And it’s just something that took hold of me (where) your body and your mind tells you when enough is enough.”
While Biles’ decision received the predictable backlash on social media, she called the support she’s received since returning from Japan two weeks ago overwhelming.
“It’s been so supportive, so loving, which I really wasn’t expecting,” she said, calling the response on par with what she received after coming back from the 2016 Olympics with four gold medals, five in all.
It’s one of the reasons why Biles is excited about the tour, one that she believes will differ from the post-Olympic tours formerly run by USA Gymnastics. Biles signed on as the headliner because she wanted to take the sport in a different direction. She pointed out the tour is being run by women — a first — and will be something “unique.”
Also unique? The ability for college-bound athletes like Chiles, Carey and McCallum to be compensated for joining. New legislation allowing athletes to earn money for their name, image and likeness mean all three incoming freshmen can participate in the tour without losing their college eligibility.
Given the tight tour’s tight schedule — it wraps up in Boston in early November — neither Chiles, Carey nor McCallum anticipate it getting in the way of preparing for college gymnastics season that begins in January.
“I never thought of going pro, I just wanted to go to school,” said Chiles, who will attend UCLA. “But now that this is how it is, I’ve never thought of redshirting … I think this (tour) is a great experience. … We have to be relevant and stay relevant. We have to make sure we’re still out there doing what made us who we are.”
Biles also extended a tour invitation to Olympic all-around champion Sunisa Lee, who began her freshman year at Auburn last week. Biles said Lee is focused on starting college off on the right foot but is hopeful she can make a cameo appearance or two, perhaps at the tour stop in Minneapolis — Lee is from the St. Paul area — in October.
The tour will also include two-time Olympic medalist Laurie Hernandez, 2017 world champion Morgan Hurd and 2005 world champion and 2008 Olympic silver medalist Chellsie Memmel, who is in the midst of a comeback in her early 30s.
While Memmel, a married mother of two, is still competing, the tour will be a goodbye to the sport for the 24-year-old Skinner, who is ready to start a family. There are worse ways to go out.
“I’m not going back to college and finishing my collegiate career as a gymnast so I think it’s going to be fun to be able to finish and still be able to do gym for a little bit longer,” she said. “I’m really excited for it.”
___
More AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2020-tokyo-olympics and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | www.wavy.com | Biles: Mental health advocacy part of post-Olympic tour | https://www.wavy.com/sports/biles-mental-health-advocacy-part-of-post-olympic-tour/ |
||||||
[
"Randall Chase",
"Associated Press",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:46:34+00:00 | 2021-08-19 20:13:51 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fbusiness%2Fboy-scouts-get-conditional-approval-of-850m-bankruptcy-deal%2F.json | en | FILE – In this Feb. 18, 2020, file photo, Boy Scouts of America uniforms are displayed in the retail store at the headquarters for the French Creek Council of the Boy Scouts of America in Summit Township, Pa. Attorneys recently reached a tentative agreement that could help pave the way for the Boy Scouts of America to exit bankruptcy. A Delaware judge has set a Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021 hearing on a proposed $850 million agreement between the Boy Scouts and attorneys representing about 70,000 child sex abuse claimants. (Christopher Millette/Erie Times-News via AP, File)
DOVER, Del. (AP) — A bankruptcy judge on Thursday approved a proposal by the Boy Scouts of America to enter into an agreement that includes an $850 million fund to compensate tens of thousands of men who say they were sexually abused as youngsters by Scout leaders and others.
But the judge also rejected two key provisions of the deal, potentially jeopardizing the agreement that the organization had been hoping to use as a springboard to emerge from bankruptcy later this year.
Following three days of testimony and arguments, Judge Laura Selber Silverstein granted the BSA’s request to enter into an agreement involving the national Boy Scouts organization, roughly 250 local Boy Scout councils, and attorneys representing some 70,000 men who say they were sexually abused as youngsters decades ago while engaged in Boy Scout-related activities.
The agreement was opposed by insurers who issued policies to the Boy Scouts and local councils, attorneys representing thousands of other abuse victims, and various church denominations that have sponsored local Boy Scout troops.
It was not immediately clear how Thursday’s ruling will affect the future of the bankruptcy case, given that she rejected two significant provisions in the restructuring support agreement.
“Basically, everybody’s going to have to go back to the drawing board,” said Paul Mones, an attorney representing hundreds of abuse claimants. “I think this is going to cause a reset.”
While ruling that BSA officials exercised proper business judgment as required under the law in entering into the agreement, the judge refused to grant a request that the Boy Scouts be allowed to pay millions in legal fees and expenses of attorneys hired by law firms that represent tens of thousands of abuse claimants.
Silverstein said she had several concerns about the fee request, including whether the ad hoc group called the Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice is duplicating efforts by the official victims committee appointed by the U.S. bankruptcy trustee, and whether the coalition is making a substantial contribution to the case.
The judge also noted that coalition attorneys had emphasized last year that their legal fees would be paid by individual law firms they were representing, and that abuse claimants would not be responsible for those costs.
Silverstein said any payment of legal fees by the Boys Scouts, or by the victims fund, which was also contemplated in the agreement, “comes directly or indirectly out of their clients’ pockets, and indeed the pockets of all abuse victims.”
“Any funds diverted from abuse victims, especially to pay an obligation of their lawyers, needs to be closely examined,” she said.
David Molton, an attorney for the coalition, said the group was pleased that Silverstein approved the agreement. He said it enables the coalition and its partners to procure settlements from insurers and sponsoring organizations that will bring in “additional billions of dollars” to compensate survivors.
Molton did not address Silverstein’s denial of the fee arrangement with the Boy Scouts, which he described at a hearing earlier this week as “part and parcel” of the agreement.
Silverstein also denied the BSA’s request under the agreement for permission to withdraw from an April agreement in which insurance company The Hartford would pay $650 million into the fund for abuse claimants in exchange for being released from any further liability.
Silverstein said the Hartford settlement was a separate issue from the agreement, and that the BSA’s attempt to use the agreement as a vehicle to back out of that deal was improper.
“You can’t just roll up any relief you want and put it in a request to approve an (agreement),” she said. ”… The request to determine debtor’s obligations or, conversely, Hartford’s damages, is not appropriate in this context.”
A spokesperson for The Hartford said the company declined to comment.
Irwin Zalkin, an attorney for abuse claimants who opposed the agreement, said the judge “gutted” key conditions that supporters were hoping to “box her into.”
“In my view the (agreement) has been rendered toothless,” Zalkin said.
The Boy Scouts of America issued a statement describing the ruling as “an important development” in the case. The BSA also indicated that it would be submitting a court filing regarding the timing of a hearing that was scheduled to start Wednesday. The hearing is to determine whether the judge approves a disclosure statement that explains the Boy Scouts’ reorganization plan to creditors. Approval of the disclosure statement is required before ballots can be sent to abuse claimants to vote on a plan.
The Boy Scouts, based in Irving, Texas, sought bankruptcy protection in February 2020 in an effort to halt hundreds of individual lawsuits and create a huge compensation fund for thousands of men who were molested as youngsters by scoutmasters or other leaders. Although the organization was facing 275 lawsuits at the time of the filing, it is now facing some 82,500 sexual abuse claims in the bankruptcy case.
Under the agreement, the Boy Scouts would contribute up to $250 million in cash and property to a fund for victims of child sexual abuse. The local councils, which run day-to-day operations for Boy Scout troops, would contribute $600 million. In addition, the national organization and local councils would transfer their rights to Boy Scout insurance policies to the victims fund. In return, they would be released from future liability for abuse claims.
Opponents of the deal argued that BSA officials failed to fully inform themselves or exercise proper business judgment in entering into the agreement. They noted that the Boy Scouts board of directors never adopted a resolution approving the agreement, and that decision-making authority was delegated to an executive committee and a handful of people on a bankruptcy task force.
“Having reviewed the evidence, I conclude that debtors were sufficiently informed to make this decision,” Silverstein said. “And while a specific (board) resolution would have been preferable, the evidence is clear that debtors approved the transaction.”
“A court is particularly ill-suited to address strategic business decisions such as this one,” the judge added. “Debtors may ultimately may be wrong in their assessment, but that is not the test of business judgment.” | www.wavy.com | Boy Scouts get conditional approval of $850M bankruptcy deal | https://www.wavy.com/news/business/boy-scouts-get-conditional-approval-of-850m-bankruptcy-deal/ |
||||||
[
"Doug Ferguson",
"Associated Press",
"Nathan Crawford",
"Sarah Fearing",
"Jason Marks"
] | 2021-08-20 01:56:30+00:00 | 2021-08-19 23:38:56 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fsports%2Fthomas-rahm-open-with-63s-to-share-lead-at-liberty-national%2F.json | en | Jon Rahm, of Spain, watches his shot off the 10th tee in the first round of play at the Northern Trust golf tournament, Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021, at Liberty National Golf Course in Jersey City, N.J. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — Jon Rahm returned from a month off and played like he was never gone. Justin Thomas took the advice of a 15-year-old and had his lowest score of the year.
Both opened with an 8-under 63 on Thursday at The Northern Trust as the PGA Tour’s postseason began with no shortage of bizarre developments.
Rahm, who missed his chance at the Olympics because of what amounts to a false positive test result for COVID-19, expected a little rust in his game. It just didn’t show on his card. He chipped in for birdie, saved par on the next two holes and was on his way.
Thomas had benched his putter for bad behavior after he spent too much of the year not seeing putts go in the hole. But during his junior event last week, a teenager asked why he wasn’t using his old putter.
“And I found myself defending myself to this 15-year-old,” he said. “I was like, ‘Why am I not using this thing?’ It’s not like I’m making a lot of putts with what I have. If you’re putting well, any of us can go out and putt with anything.”
He didn’t hole all of them, but enough to record nine birdies for his lowest round since a 62 last November in Mexico.
Bryson DeChambeau also made nine birdies. He was eight shots behind. His round of 71 was noteworthy because of the pars he made on No. 4 and No. 10. Those were the only pars he made all day. The nine birdies were offset by five bogeys and two double bogeys.
It was the first time in 10 years someone shot par or better with two pars or fewer.
Not to be overlooked was Dustin Johnson, one of the most stress-free players in golf — at least he looks that way — who uttered words rarely heard: “Threw me for a loop.”
He was hitting drivers on the range, and hitting them well, right before teeing off when a few of them came off the club funny and another one sounded funny. His driver cracked, and Johnson headed to the first tee with 13 clubs and one head cover for his 5-wood.
He had a spare 3-wood in the car — but no driver — and got that on the third hole. If that wasn’t enough, he decided on a putter switch at the last minute. He still managed a 70.
Otherwise, there was a range of good golf in surprisingly strong wind off the Hudson River across from the Manhattan skyline.
Harold Varner III had a 66 in the morning, boosting his postseason chances. He is No. 72 in the FedEx Cup standings, and only the top 70 after this week advance to the next tournament. With the points at quadruple value, some big movements are expected.
The six players at 67 included Adam Scott (No. 82), Robert Streb (No. 68) and Mackenzie Hughes (No. 67).
British Open champion Collin Morikawa, the No. 1 seed, struggled to keep the ball in play and opened with a 74. Jordan Spieth at No. 2 opened with a 72.
Rahm has endured the strangest of times with COVID-19. He tested positive on the day he built a six-shot lead through 54 holes at the Memorial and had to withdraw, and then returned to win the U.S. Open for his first major.
And then after more negative test results than he can remember for the British Open — he tied for third at Royal St. George’s — he had two more negative tests prior to his departure for the Olympics before a positive result showed up. The next day, he took two more tests (both negative), but by then it was too late.
He returned from his bout with COVID-19 by winning a major. This is different. He never had a chance to win a gold medal because he never made it to Tokyo. But he wouldn’t mind the same result, which in this case would be a FedEx Cup title worth $15 million.
“I sure don’t want to have to rely on being pulled out of tournaments to be able to win one, let’s just say that,” he said.
Thomas knows putts that don’t fall is not the fault of the equipment, but something had to change, so he benched his putter at he U.S. Open. Ultimately, it’s about getting the speed to match with the line of the putt, and he did that well for so much of the day.
He holed a 35-foot birdie putt for his first lead on the par-3 14th, gave it back with a poor chip, and then drove the 283-yard 16th green to set up a closing stretch of three straight birdies.
The day started with another development: Patrick Reed withdrew with a sore ankle, the second straight week he has had to withdraw.
Reed is No. 22 in the FedEx Cup, and there are only two tournaments left to qualify for the Ryder Cup. He is No. 9 in the standings, and only the top six automatically qualify. The idea was to give it another week of rest and being ready for the next one. | www.wavy.com | Thomas, Rahm open with 63s to share lead at Liberty National | https://www.wavy.com/sports/thomas-rahm-open-with-63s-to-share-lead-at-liberty-national/ |
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[
"Addison Hoggard",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:54:11+00:00 | 2021-08-19 10:23:08 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Fkitchen-br%2Flunch-boxes-br%2Fbest-bento-box%2F.json | en | In Japan, people garnish their bento rice with an umeboshi, or pickled Japanese plum, to help keep it fresh.
Which bento box is best?
Bento boxes are a great option for anyone that likes to pack food at home to take on the go. These handy little lunch boxes originated in Japan and are known for holding a few different types of foods due to their compartmentalized designs.
Bento boxes are an excellent option for packing a healthy lunch to take to the office, school or even on a day hike. The top pick, the Zojirushi Mr Bento Stainless Steel Lunch Jar, is a testament to the versatility of the Japanese bento box.
What to know before you buy a bento box
Differences from lunch boxes
Most American-style lunch boxes are simple in their design and typically only feature one compartment. They rely on the use of containers to keep food separate and safe while on the move.
However, Bento boxes are different in that they come with compartments and dividers built into the box. Bento boxes keep food from mixing in transit, and most will even have compartments for soup.
Bento box styles
While all bento boxes share the universal element of a neat organization, there are a few different types on the market.
The main two types of traditional bento boxes are stackable and single-tier bento boxes. Stackable bento boxes will come with a few different tiers that can be stacked and secured together with a strap. Single-tier bento boxes are usually a bit larger and come with many different compartments and dividers to accommodate different foods.
Modern vs. traditional
Modern bento boxes and traditional bento boxes don’t differ too much and are both great options. Modern bento boxes, like the Zojirushi, offer more features, whereas more traditional bento boxes, like the Keka Japanese Bento Box, excel in their simplicity and functionality.
What to look for in a quality bento box
Material and design
Perhaps the most important thing to consider when purchasing a new bento is the material used. Traditional Japanese bento boxes usually use bamboo or wood, but nowadays, it’s more common to find stainless steel or plastic bento boxes. Stainless steel is easier to clean and won’t stain or hold smells. Plastic is more lightweight but can be tougher to clean.
The designs of bento boxes can range from quirky to traditional to simple. Some bento boxes prioritize form over function, while others are strictly designed to get your meal from point A to B.
Size
Bento boxes can vary in size but bear in mind that they hold smaller portions of food. This makes them an excellent option for anyone watching their portion sizes.
Most bento boxes may not even have enough room to fit a full-sized sandwich as they carry foods such as sushi, rice and onigiri.
Durability
The material of your bento box will also impact its lifespan. Stainless steel bento boxes are by far the most durable, as plastic bento boxes can wear out with washing and repeatedly being heated in the microwave.
How much you can expect to spend on a bento box
Basic bento boxes start at around $10 but expect to pay anywhere from $20-$50 for quality bento boxes that are leak-proof and more durable.
Bento box FAQ
Is my bento box safe to use in the microwave?
A. Most bento boxes, even the plastic ones, are safe to use in the microwave, but always double-check your specific bento box. Some plastic microwave-safe bento boxes may warp if they spend too much time in the microwave.
How long will my bento box keep food fresh?
A. This will depend on many factors, but generally speaking, bento boxes are great for keeping food fresh for around 24 hours. They carry enough food for lunch on the go. If you need to preserve food for longer, they are easy to store in the fridge, thanks to their small design.
What’s the best bento box to buy?
Top bento box
Zojirushi Mr Bento Stainless Steel Lunch Jar
What you need to know: This authentic stackable Japanese bento box comes with a sleek stainless steel design.
What you’ll love: The Zojirushi is great for keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold, thanks to the stainless steel jar. The stackable bowls are all microwave-safe and can hold more significant portions of food.
What you should consider: Be sure to clean the containers thoroughly after every use to avoid any lingering food odors.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top bento box for the money
Bentgo Classic Stackable Bento Box
What you need to know: This two-tiered bento box is stylish and comes in an array of colors. Great for both kids and adults.
What you’ll love: The Bentgo Classic can pack plenty of food and comes with several compartments despite its small size.
What you should consider: You may have some problems with wet food leaking out so take care not to slosh it around too much while on the go.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Bentoheaven Premium Bento Box
What you need to know: This stylish bento box comes with customizable portion dividers and sauce cups to take your sauces and salad dressings on the go.
What you’ll love: The bento comes with a robust seal to help keep food from spilling out. It also comes with flatware and chopsticks.
What you should consider: The elastic strap may stretch out over time.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Addison Hoggard writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | www.wavy.com | Best bento box | https://www.wavy.com/reviews/br/kitchen-br/lunch-boxes-br/best-bento-box/ |
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[
"Sarah Fearing",
"Nathan Crawford"
] | 2021-08-20 01:46:50+00:00 | 2021-08-19 14:37:03 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fbusiness%2Fdairy-farmers-eligible-for-pandemic-related-assistance%2F.json | en | BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Help is on the way for dairy farmers who got a lower price for their products because of pandemic-related market abnormalities, the U.S. Department of Agricullture said Thursday.
The department will provide about $350 million in assistance payments to eligible farmers, it said.
The effort is “to try and compensate a bit those farmers who suffered the loss of value because of the distortion of market during the pandemic,” U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said at a press conference in Vermont.
The majority of the resources will go to smaller farms, he said.
Qualified dairy farmers will get payments for 80% of the revenue difference per month based on an annual production of up to 5 million pounds of milk marketed and on fluid milk sales from July through December 2020, the department said.
“This targeted assistance is the first step in USDA’s comprehensive approach that will total over $2 billion to help the dairy industry recover from the pandemic and be more resilient to future challenges for generations to come,” Vilsack said in a written statement. | www.wavy.com | Dairy farmers eligible for pandemic-related assistance | https://www.wavy.com/news/business/dairy-farmers-eligible-for-pandemic-related-assistance/ |
||||||
[
"Collette Bliss",
"Bestreviews Staff",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:53:23+00:00 | 2021-08-19 17:27:24 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Freviews%2Fbr%2Felectronics-br%2Fgaming-accessories-br%2Fbest-nintendo-consoles%2F.json | en | The Nintendo Switch doesn’t come with a carrying case, so if you plan to travel with it, consider purchasing a case. You can find small cases that only hold the console itself, or larger cases designed to fit the dock, charger and controllers as well.
Which Nintendo console is best?
Mario, Donkey Kong, Zelda and Kirby are just a few of the beloved character franchises that Nintendo has been bringing into our homes for years. A creative company that constantly pushes the boundaries of the gaming industry, Nintendo has put out a multitude of consoles over the years that provide us with a bountiful variety of gaming experiences. With so many Nintendo consoles on the market, it can be tricky to find the best one for you and your family.
Read along for a compilation of the things to know about Nintendo consoles and some top console recommendations for all your gaming needs.
What to know before you buy a Nintendo console
Nintendo
Innovative systems: From the very first color TV game to NES, Game Boy, Wii, DS, GameCube and now the Switch, Nintendo has been consistently transforming itself and putting out new system models since the late 1970s. Most gaming console companies improve upon specific features like graphics quality and speed with each new iteration of their consoles, but Nintendo releases new ways of console gaming with nearly every model they put out.
Exclusive games: “Mario Kart” matches being ruined by bananas and blue shells and pitting Donkey Kong and Link against each other for the title in “Super Smash Bros.” are exciting experiences exclusive to Nintendo gaming. The “Super Mario Bros.” series, a classic side-scrolling platformer, has expanded for a variety of adventure styles. “The Legend of Zelda” games follow Link saving the land of Hyrule from Ganon in a conglomerate adventure with hours of gameplay. These characters and games are exclusive to Nintendo, making them a standout console company.
Community focus: While other console companies tend to prioritize open world role-playing games and first-person shooters, Nintendo consoles place more emphasis on family and community-oriented gaming. The Wii, for example, was groundbreaking in its time as a way for families to enjoy playing games together in a more active way. With the introduction of the Nintendo Switch, we see for the first time the opportunity for eight-player games to be part of the normal cycle of gaming. These features demonstrate Nintendo’s emphasis on group rather than solo gaming.
Handheld vs. classic Nintendo consoles
Prior to the introduction of the Switch, handheld vs. traditional consoles was the most straightforward distinction for categorizing Nintendo consoles.
Handheld Nintendo consoles
Game & Watch was the first handheld Nintendo console and was replaced by the Game Boy, which was the first handheld console with an interchangeable cartridge system. The Game Boy gradually improved to the Game Boy Advance, and then the Nintendo DS and 3DS. Overall, Nintendo’s handheld consoles are designed to provide on-the-go fun wherever your journey takes you.
Classic Nintendo consoles
Classic or traditional consoles are ones designed to be hooked up to a television. The Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES, was the first, followed by the Super version, or SNES. Nintendo 64 came out in 1996 and was the first home console to have four controller ports. Then came the GameCube as the first Nintendo console to use disc games. The Wii and subsequent Wii U consoles revolutionized Nintendo gaming with wireless controllers and mobility-oriented games for active family fun.
Nintendo Switch
Truly the best of both worlds, the Nintendo Switch was a mind-blowing concept when it was released in 2017. It features a portable console with a screen that can be docked to display on a television. The modular controllers, called Joy-Cons, can attach to the console for portable use or can be used separately to accommodate group play. The whole system also packs up easily, making it a great console to bring to parties or friends’ houses. For many Nintendo fans, it’s hard to imagine a gaming innovation that can top the Switch.
How much you can expect to spend on a Nintendo console
Generally, the price depends on how new your Nintendo console is. On average, you can spend $100-$300 for a Nintendo console, but you’ll find handheld consoles like the GameBoy and 3DS for less than $80. As the newest system, the Switch is the most expensive at around $300, while Switch Lite and Wii systems are sold for $100-$200.
Nintendo console FAQ
Can I play Wii games on the Nintendo Switch?
A. The simple answer is no. The Switch uses cartridges, so it cannot play any disc games. The Wii U, however, is backwards-compatible with both Wii and Gamecube games.
My Joy-Cons are drifting. What can I do?
A. Joy-Cons, the controllers for the Switch, have a problem with drift over time, which means that your controller will think you’re pressing a button or going in a direction without you actually initiating that command. There are some DIY fixes out there, but Nintendo has acknowledged the issue and will repair drifting Joy-Cons for free.
What’s the best Nintendo console to buy?
Top Nintendo console
Nintendo Switch with Blue and Red Joy-Con
What you need to know: The most innovative console from Nintendo, the Switch can do it all. Whether you want one console for your home or you’re a hardcore gamer, the Switch is the ultimate go-to Nintendo console.
What you’ll love: The system doubles as a handheld console and a traditional console so you can hook it up to your TV or take it with you anywhere. It has a massive collection of games that can be downloaded or bought in cartridge form.
What you should consider: Controllers are pricey.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Nintendo console for the money
Nintendo Switch Lite
What you need to know: All the quality, portability and games that you get with the regular Switch, but at a budget-friendly price. Ideal for solo gamers.
What you’ll love: Affordable and lightweight with integrated controls, the Switch Lite plays all regular Switch games and can be played online with others. Available in a variety of unique colors.
What you should consider: Can’t be played on a TV, so if you’re wanting the group play and at-home play of a traditional console, the regular Switch is better.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Nintendo NES Classic Edition
What you need to know: A reboot of Nintendo’s original system, retro gamers will love this trip down memory lane. Not all games have aged well, but it’s great for nostalgia.
What you’ll love: 30 games in one. Modern updates like HDMI make this blast from the past easier to set up, and the variety of included games is well worth the value.
What you should consider: Not a lot of upgrades for the price.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals.
Collette Bliss writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | www.wavy.com | Best Nintendo consoles | https://www.wavy.com/reviews/br/electronics-br/gaming-accessories-br/best-nintendo-consoles/ |
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[
"Daniel Cole",
"Angela Charlton",
"Associated Press",
"Jen Steer",
"Nexstar Media Wire",
"Jeremy Tanner",
"Sarah Fearing"
] | 2021-08-20 01:50:08+00:00 | 2021-08-19 10:40:13 | https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wavy.com%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fas-winds-calm-firefighters-find-hope-battling-french-blaze%2F.json | en | A burning forest is pictured near Le Luc, southern France, Wednesday, Aug.18, 2021 Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021 in Le Luc. A wildfire near the French Riviera killed at least two people and was burning out of control in the forests of the popular region, fueled by wind and drought. Over 1,100 firefighters were battling the flames and thousands of tourists and locals were evacuated to safer areas. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
LE LUC, France (AP) — Just when fire officials thought a huge wildfire near the French Riviera might be slowing down, a new pocket of flames shot up. And just as a water-dumping helicopter finished dousing one hot spot, another ignited.
Despite calmer winds and cooler weather, the fire that has forced thousands to flee and ravaged woodlands raged for a fourth day Thursday, defying some 1,200 firefighters struggling to bring it under control.
The blaze, which has killed two people and injured 26, is the latest among numerous large wildfires to have scorched the Mediterranean region this summer. The spokesman for the regional fire service, Florent Dossetti, called it one of the worst forest fires to hit southern France in centuries.
The fire has burned 8,100 hectares (20,015 acres) of forest since it started Monday about 40 kilometers (24 miles) inland from the coastal resort of Saint-Tropez. Several thousand people have been forced to evacuate campgrounds, hotels and homes across the region at the height of summer vacation in France.
In addition to chestnut, oak and pine trees, the blaze has consumed vineyards on the rolling hills of the low-lying Maures mountain range. One family desperately shoveled dirt on flames in a vain attempt to protect their vines. Smoke swept through wooded valleys as sirens wailed and the propellers on firefighting helicopters whipped overhead.
Earlier in the day, local authorities had said the fire was “less violent and its progression has slowed.” Strong winds coming off the Mediterranean Sea that had fanned the flames calmed overnight. High temperatures in the region — which had reached 40 degrees Celsius (104 F) in recent days — were dropping.
But new bursts of flames ignited in three spots Thursday, complicating firefighting efforts, Dossetti said.
“We are working on drowning the edges (of the fire) to ensure it is extinguished, and to avoid new bursts of flames,” Dossetti told The Associated Press.
The regional administration warned that the risk of new flames remained high, and kept several roads closed. About 2,000 people evacuated from campgrounds earlier in the week were allowed to return, the administration said in a statement, though thousands of other evacuees remained housed in temporary shelters.
In the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, huge water-bombing planes could be seen swooping down to fill their bellies with water to dump across the flaming Riviera backcountry. Reinforcements came in from elsewhere around France.
This summer has brought extreme heat, drought or wildfires to many parts of the world. Scientists say there is little doubt that climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is driving such extreme weather events, and that the world will see more and more of them as the planet warms.
Wildfires this summer have left areas in Greece, Turkey, Italy, Algeria and Spain in smoldering ruins. In Greece on Thursday, hundreds of Greek and Polish firefighters battled a major wildfire decimating a pine forest northwest of the Greek capital for a fourth day.
The fire near the village of Vilia, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Athens, has already burned through thousands of hectares, destroyed some homes and led to evacuation orders for several villages in the area. Strong winds forecast for later in the day could complicate firefighting efforts.
On the Croatian island of Hvar, a large fire that broke out overnight torched bushes, olive trees and some pine forests. About 50 fire trucks and three firefighting planes were being used to control the blaze.
___
Charlton reported from Paris. Elena Becatoros in Athens and Dusan Stojanovic in Belgrade, Serbia, contributed.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of climate change issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-change | www.wavy.com | New flames thwart French efforts to fight Riviera wildfire | https://www.wavy.com/news/world/as-winds-calm-firefighters-find-hope-battling-french-blaze/ |
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