Desmond Milligan

ENFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) — The northbound side of Interstate 91 was closed Tuesday night between Exit 49 and the Massachusetts state line due to a motorcycle crash, according to Connecticut State Police. Massachusetts State Police said they responded to the crash involving a motorcycle and a truck around 8:45 p.m. Road closures in effect after fatal motorcycle crash in Waterbury The northbound Exit 49 on ramp was also closed but has since reopened. State police said they were assisting Massachusetts State Police with an investigation. They did not comment on how many vehicles were involved, if anyone was injured, or the nature of the MSP investigation. This is a developing story. Stay with News 8 for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. View the full article

This fall, about 50,000 Wisconsin public school kids will start first grade. They'll file through hundred-year-old hallways and new builds, meeting teachers just out of college or 40-year veteran educators, with dozens of new faces around them. It’s been awhile since our reporters were in first grade, and we wanted to know what it’s like. So we asked students from around the state who just finished first grade: What do this year's new first-graders need to know? Former first-graders Kinzley, left, and Jaryia work on a math assignment in summer school at Elm Creative Arts in Milwaukee. The two are looking forward to second grade, but had some words of wisdom for incoming first-graders.Prepping for first grade isn’t just about the academics, longtime Appleton teacher Amy Zewicki said. Kids also learn to problem-solve and do things on their own (although Zewicki still encourages parents to read to their kids every night). The (former) first-graders we talked to learned to read, write and count. They shouted out their favorite books and games from the year — but they also talked about learning to make friends, to lean into kindness and creativity and to face first-day fears head on. Here's their advice. You're going to be nervousIncoming Suamico Elementary second-grader Hazel tells a reporter about first grade.Hazel, who just finished first grade at Suamico Elementary in Brown County, wants new first-graders to know “you’re just going to feel nervous on the first day.” But once you get to know your teachers and make some friends, it’ll get better, she said. You can always tell your teacher you’re nervous. The first thing Hazel’s class worked on in first grade was reading, a hot topic right now. Suamico Elementary, like most Wisconsin elementary schools, doesn’t have a specific list of words that graduating kindergartners need to know, but words like "and," "the" and "you" are considered "power words" they should know to start their first-grade year strong. Hazel remembers learning to read the word “the” on her first day as they helped catch up some students. Reading was “a little” hard, but don’t worry, she's all set now. The class also spent some time on math. Some problems were easy, Hazel said, while others were a little harder. But having fun made up for that. She drew pictures of her dogs, Maddie and Arlo, and her cat, Oakley. And her favorite part of the whole year was using Canva: Hazel gave detailed instructions on how to make picture books about “cats, dogs, football, or whatever, really.” 'Run for your life' in Jurassic World TagIncoming Suamico Elementary second-grader Emerick shares a laugh during an interview.On his first day at Suamico Elementary, Emerick was “a little scared and excited.” Scared to make new friends, although now he has lots. Excited to draw sharks, footballs and baseballs with his new markers. Most first-graders read as homework, up a level from kindergarten. The longer words were a little rough for Emerick at the start, but now he knows lots of big words. For example, “example”; he’s still working on spelling it on his own, though. But Emerick’s favorite part of first grade was gym, and not just because he plays sports. His favorite game was Jurassic World Tag. He tried to explain the rules, but between the dodgeballs and the T-Rexes, they were a little too complicated for our reporter to follow. All we know? “You have to run for your life!” Learning 'All About Chimps'Incoming Suamico Elementary second-grader Ellison smiles in an interview.On her first day at Suamico Elementary, Ellison was “a little bit scared, but happy.” There were a lot of other kids, but they were all friendly, she said. The next day, they started learning “a little bit more than the first day of school.” She learned a lot in first grade — like how to tell time, which she said was the hardest thing to learn. The class read for homework, and Ellison read “non-fantasy books and fantasy books.” The best book? “All About Chimps.” She nodded. “They use sticks to get their food.” 'You can say hi to your teacher'Incoming Suamico Elementary second-grader Stella thinks over her answers in an interview.Stella wants new first-graders to know that "you can say hi to your teacher” on the first day. She was really nice, Stella said. She spent her year learning and coloring rainbows. The best part, by far, was recess. Her favorite subject, though, was reading. Stella learned to read chapter books, but she doesn’t quite have her favorite book nailed down yet. The first day of reading was hard: “The bigger words” got her for a bit, but she knows them now. You'll make 'loads of friends' in first gradeIncoming second-grader Eliana laughs in an interview at Westwood Elementary in De Pere.Eliana Rysewyk was nervous going into first grade at Westwood Elementary in De Pere. There would be a lot of new people, and she was worried about not having many friends. "It was kind of scary because of all the new faces I was going to see,” she said. But in the end, she made “loads of friends.” Her advice? The first day of first grade will be OK. “Don’t worry if you’re new to Westwood,” Eliana said. “It’s OK to be a little nervous.” A Skittles game and new friendsIncoming Westwood Elementary second-grader Bexen has advice for new first-graders at the De Pere school.The one thing Bexen remembers about his first day of first grade is the Skittles game his class played. Every first-grader got a few Skittles, and each Skittle color meant you had to tell the class a certain thing about yourself. Bexen was nervous people wouldn’t like him “because it’s super new, and you just don’t know people super much.” But he made friends, and he liked reading his favorite books in class. “Don’t be nervous,” Bexen said. “If you have fun, you could make new friends.” 'One of the funnest things I ever did'Incoming Westwood Elementary second-grader Ella shares her thoughts on first grade.For Ella, the first day of school was scary, but she knew she could make new friends. It wasn’t hard: “I could see them having fun, and I could just join in.” Ella’s class learned about safety in first grade. Don’t touch fire alarms, she cautioned, and don’t touch any “hot electricity.” But future first-graders will be fine in first grade. Better than fine, Ella said. “New first-graders: that was actually one of the funnest things I ever did,” she said. Don't be rude!Incoming Westwood Elementary second-grader Claire offers advice for new first-graders.Claire learned a lot in first grade. She loved science, in particular, especially when the class learned how plants grow. She clearly also learned some wisdom to pass on to the next batch of first-graders: Be kind, she said, “because if you’re rude you’ll probably sit on the wall for recess.” Listen to the teacher, and don't be a bully. “Because then no one wants to be your friend except the other bullies. And it’s rude,” Claire said. First grade after a big moveIncoming Westwood Elementary second-grader Ruben Martinez shows readers how big the school library is.Ruben started first grade in Texas. When he went to Westwood Elementary in De Pere after his family moved, he was surprised at the extra space the school had — and “the big library.” His favorite book was "The Watermelon Seed," he said, and his favorite subject was math, although he couldn’t remember what kind of math was his favorite. Future first-graders should practice their spelling, Ruben advised. Have fun and be happyAlthough she's going into second grade now, Zoey well remembers first grade, and shares some of those memories with a reporter.On her first day of first grade at Parkway Elementary in Glendale, Zoey said she was nervous and played with some people she knew because she was scared of being made fun of “for being different.” She said she made a best friend who was nice to her as the school year went on. Zoey said the best thing she learned was math because she really liked it, although she couldn't say why. But she remembered why she liked the new scissors she got in her school supplies. First grade helped her learn how to use them and get it right, she said. Former first-grader Josie, 7, reads in the library at Lincoln Elementary in Wauwatosa during the summer school program.Zoey said she did not have any homework. But she and other students would take home games to play with their families, and they could read for a short time. Reading was the most challenging for Zoey because of new words she had to learn. However, she said she “kept reading and reading.” Zoey said she was really good at reading by the end of the school year. She advised incoming first-graders to have fun and be happy. Don't miss the pizzaJoe, 8, from Jefferson Elementary School in Wauwatosa, talks about his experience as a first-grader.Joe said he remembered having to do “a lot” of math and reading in first grade at Jefferson Elementary School in Wauwatosa. He said math was his favorite subject; he liked adding and subtracting. He said the hardest part of first grade was writing, specifically spelling. His favorite part of the school day was lunch; his favorite meal was pizza. As for advice he'd give to future first-graders, Joe said he did not have any. “I'm just not the guy that does this stuff," he said during his interview. Learning FrenchKinzley, 7, from French Immersion School, talks about her experience as a first-grader while attending the summer school program at Elm Creative Arts in Milwaukee.Kinzley said her first day of first grade at French Immersion School was “awesome.” She met a lot of new people and felt good about it. Her favorite part of the school day was meeting friends on the school bus. Kinzley said it was cool to learn French. Some of the words she learned were “bonjour,” which means “hello,” and “pourquoi,” which means “why.” Kinzley said she used a spelling book to practice her words and “a big book” for math. She said the best part of first grade was learning math. Former first-grader Josie, 7, reads in the library at Lincoln Elementary in Wauwatosa, where she is attending the summer school program.Kinzley loved using Chromebooks and learning new stuff. She got better at her homework by continuing to try. She loves school because it’s about learning and having fun. She also likes recess and being outside. School gives her something to do, she said. Her advice for new first-graders: “You’re new, and it doesn’t matter if you mess up because it’s OK because you’re still learning.” Elm Creative Arts teacher Sheryl Wartman does a math assignment with former first-graders including Emerson, 7, right, during summer school at the Milwaukee school.Phoenix said getting better at homework comes with practicePhoenix, 7, of Appleton, says first grade was "fun but challenging."Phoenix said she had homework in first grade, but "the more I did it, the better I got at it." Her favorite subject? "I just really like math," she said. Former first-graders from left, Jaryia, Brielle and Kinzley listen during summer school at Elm Creative Arts in Milwaukee.One incoming first-grader, Harper, had asked a reporter what first grade would be like. Phoenix had an answer: "Fun, but challenging." Incoming first-graders should know mathMath was top of mind for 7-year-old Kaya, who is an old hand at first grade, having just completed it.Kaya said incoming first-graders "should know how to do a lot of math" because "they were just in kindergarten." But they have a chance to catch up, because she said she also learned lots of math in first grade. Her favorite math lesson was how to subtract, a skill she said she uses outside of school. A big plus for first grade: colored pencilsTheodore, a 6-year-old from Appleton, says out of all his school supplies, colored pencils are his favorite.Theodore remembers bringing coloring supplies to first grade: crayons, colored pencils and markers. His favorite was colored pencils, hands down. While crayons and markers are big, he said, "colored pencils are not that big and not that wide," he explained. Former first-graders, from left front, Winnie, Ana and Caroline, back row, Josie and Joe attend the summer school session at Lincoln Elementary in Wauwatosa. They were among students interviewed about their year in first grade.Fast facts about first grade in WisconsinWisconsin had 52,597 first-graders in public schools in 2024-25 There were 10,304 first-graders In private schools in 2024-25First-graders don’t take the state's standardized Forward Exams. They do take literacy tests, however, which make sure their reading skills are at grade level. These exams start in 4K. Most first-graders are 6-7 years old. First-graders learn common one-syllable words like cat, fox and bet, and basic two-syllable words. They learn to add and subtract within 20, count to 120 and tell time. Westwood Elementary School teacher Jennifer Klika and her first-grade class pose for a picture at the De Pere school.This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Advice for new first-graders from the experts: former first-graders View the full article

(Photo by Aristide Economopoulos/NJ Monitor) The number of Washingtonians licensed to carry concealed pistols is climbing rapidly in the face of a new state law that will require prospective gun owners to secure a state permit before purchasing a firearm. In all of 2024, the total number of Washingtonians with concealed carry licenses increased by fewer than 6,000, compared to about 14,000 already this year, state data show. By the end of July, Washington had 713,195 active concealed pistol licenses, known as CPLs, according to the state Department of Licensing. That’s up from 699,000 licenses to start the year and equivalent to about one license for every 11 residents. Dave Workman, editor-in-chief of the Second Amendment Foundation’s TheGunMag.com, has been tracking concealed pistol license numbers in Washington since 2013. Usually, more people getting CPLs is tied to a fear of rising crime. But crime dropped significantly in 2024, the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs recently reported. Still, the feeling of being unsafe remains for those on both sides of the political spectrum, Workman believes. “You see these stories about shootings or stabbings on the heels of reports that Seattle has lost several hundred officers since 2020,” he said. “People look at that and they think, and I think rightfully so, that they have to take more responsibility for their own safety.” Each month since May has set a new high for active licenses, after the numbers sputtered for a couple years. The number of license holders grew more than 3,800 in July alone. And April saw the most new licenses added in a single month since 2022. Workman expects the trend to continue. State lawmakers in April approved House Bill 1163, which will require those looking to buy guns to apply for a five-year permit through the Washington State Patrol. Applicants will have to pay a fee and have completed a certified firearms safety training program within the past five years, with limited exceptions. Majority Democrats pushed through the controversial legislation amid staunch pushback from gun rights advocates. The permit system, set to take effect in May 2027, goes beyond the state’s existing background checks, which also require proof of completion of a firearm safety course. As long as applicants aren’t the subject of an arrest warrant or barred from having guns in the first place, state patrol will have to approve their permit if they meet specific criteria. The same currently goes for concealed pistol licenses. Applications can’t be denied, as long as the applicant is at least age 21, is allowed to have a gun and meets some other requirements. Under the new law, CPL applicants will also need to prove they’ve done a firearm safety program. The law, expected to face legal challenges, is the latest in a series of moves legislators have made in the past few years to try to reduce gun violence and suicides. “And what does the public do?” Workman said. “They turn right around. They buy guns. They go get concealed pistol licenses. It’s like they’re telling the gun control crowd, ‘Hey, bugger off.’” Since February, Grant, Whatcom, Pend Oreille, Pierce and Mason counties have seen the biggest percentage jumps in licensees. King County, which has the most license holders, also saw a more than 2% uptick in the past six months. The numbers dropped in only 10 of Washington’s 39 counties. The National Rifle Association said the state’s gun control efforts, “coupled with a soft-on-crime agenda, have created a dangerous scenario where law-abiding citizens must jump through administrative hoops to exercise their constitutional rights.” “Despite these arduous hurdles, more Washingtonians than ever are arming themselves, because they understand that their family’s safety is in their own hands,” said John Commerford, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, in a statement. Gregory Joseph, communications director for the Seattle-based Alliance for Gun Responsibility, disagrees. He said that, “while more firearms in circulation can increase risk, we believe Washington’s approach to firearm safety makes our communities tangibly safer.” The permit-to-purchase law will “ensure that those carrying firearms in public are well-trained and continuously vetted, helping to prevent prohibited individuals from possessing firearms,” Joseph said. “By raising the bar for training and oversight, Washington state is making responsible ownership the standard and improving safety for everyone in Washington.” SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX View the full article

August might be the hottest part of summer, but some Oregonians are already daydreaming about sweater weather, hot cider and pumpkin spice lattes. Those dreams may have to wait as the Old Farmer's Almanac has predicted that Oregon's warm weather will continue through fall. Here are the Old Farmer's Almanac predictions for fall 2025 in Oregon. The Old Farmer's Almanac 2025 fall forecast.What kind of weather is the Old Farmer's Almanac predicting for fall 2025 in Oregon?According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the Pacific Northwest will have a "warmer-than-average" autumn in 2025. The western half of Oregon is predicted to have a warm, wet fall, and the eastern half is predicted to have a warm, dry fall. Predictions also indicate that while much of the nation will experience below-average rainfall, the Pacific Northwest will likely see its familiar wet season, despite the heat. "September and October will be warmer and wetter than normal overall," said the Old Farmer's Almanac. September will be a "mostly sunny month with brief cool spells and light rain early and mid-month, then turning very warm late." The Pacific Northwest will also see an average temperature of 63 degrees in September, one degree higher than normal, and 1 inch of rainfall. October in the Pacific Northwest is expected to have "a mix of sunny and rainy periods, with mild to warm temperatures throughout," according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. The average temperature is predicted to be 63 degrees, two degrees higher than normal, with 4.5 inches of rainfall forecast, 1 inch higher than normal. When is the first day of fall in Oregon?Fall officially begins on Sept. 22. The first day of fall, also known as the autumnal equinox, aligns with the position of the sun in relation to Earth and is based on the astrological calendar. Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval can be reached at [email protected] or on X at @GinnieSandoval. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Old Farmer's Almanac predictions for Oregon in fall 2025 View the full article

Rattlesnake season is far from over in Colorado, and you may even see more of them in late summer and fall than at any other time. That's because baby rattlesnakes are born in late August through early October in Colorado, usually in dens found among rock crevices and old rodent burrows. Whether you're in your yard or out recreating, it's important to watch closely where you reach or walk to avoid and keep pets away from these potential den sites. While not normally aggressive, rattlesnakes are more active, and can be more aggressive, in Colorado in spring when they emerge from winter hibernation and in the fall when they seek warm locations for the winter. Rattlesnakes typically give birth to four to 12 babies that are born live and are protected by their mother for a short period of time after birth. Prairie rattlesnakes are by far the most abundant of Colorado's three venomous snakes. How to see baby rattlesnakes in Colorado from the comfort of your computerProject RattleCam has live cameras focused on a known prairie rattlesnake mega den, or more accurately a rookery, on undisclosed private property in Northern Colorado, where dozens of pregnant rattlers spend the summer and give birth to babies. Watching the live feed, you may see hundreds of snakes overwinter, shed their skins and bask in the sun. Project RattleCam is a collaborative project among scientists from California Polytechnic State University, Central Coast Snake Services and Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. Are baby rattlesnakes more dangerous than adults?No. The myth is baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous to people because they can't control the amount of venom in their bites. The truth is a baby rattlesnake has far less venom than an adult. How to eliminate uwanted rattlesnakes from denning near your house, yardEliminate potential snake denning sites such as rock piles and rodent holes; remove brush, rocks and tall grass; and keep shrubbery away from foundations. Control insect and rodent populations to lead them to find areas with a larger food supply. Put grains in tightly sealed containers and clean up residual pet food and debris to avoid attracting rodents. Cover up rodent holes to eliminate potential denning sites. Can you kill a rattlesnake in Colorado?There is a hunting season for prairie rattlesnakes that runs from June 15 to Aug. 15 for which you are required to purchase a small game hunting license. Outside of that period, rattlesnakes can be killed only if they pose a threat to life or property. Rattlesnakes can be unnerving and a health risk if you're bitten, but they are important ecologically as they prey on rodents like mice, rats and prairie dogs that can damage crops and potentially transmit diseases to humans. This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Northern Colorado 'mega den' camera offers views of baby rattlesnakes View the full article

当初算定した適正価格の約5倍の高値で用地を取得したことについて「不適切だった」と述べる福岡県土整備部の二場正義次長（右）と山口甲秀次長＝福岡市博多区の福岡県庁で2025年8月13日午後5時38分、栗栖由喜撮影 　道路整備に伴う用地買収を巡り、福岡県が当初算定した補償額の約5倍の高値で地権者から土地を取得していた問題で、県は13日、県庁で開いた記者会見で適切でなかった点が複数あったとし、不適切な用地買収だったと認めた。地権者から今回の用地買収について再度検討したいとの申し出があったと明らかにし、不動産鑑定士らの見解も踏まえて補償額を見直す方針。 　問題となっている土地は、福岡県赤村にある計2505平方メートルの山林。県道の整備事業に伴い、県が2025年4月、地権者で部落解放同盟福岡県連の副委員長の男性（75）と買収契約を結んだ。県は6月、男性に用地補償として計2165万円を支払った。 Advertisement 　しかし、毎日新聞が入手した内部資料などから、県は買収交渉を始めた24年10月、適正な補償額として430万円を提示していたことが判明。交渉を担当した県の出先機関「田川県土整備事務所」は、男性に安価だなどとして難色を示されると、2度にわたり委託業者に土地の評価をやり直させ、最終的に当初算定額の約5倍に値上げしていた経緯が明らかになった。 　13日の会見には、県事務所を管轄する県土整備部の二場正義次長らが出席。「現地の状況を把握せずに2度にわたり、提示額を変更したことは適切ではなかった」とした。 　増額については、山林の約半分（1099平方メートル）を「造成地」と評価し直し、整備費用などを加算したことが大きく影響した。県事務所は、その際に委託業者に「平米単価1万3700～1万4400円」とする「希望単価」を示し、造成費名目での加算を求めていた。 　県は会見で、当初は山林価格で算定したが、地権者から交渉で「山林ではない。宅地に近い」「坪単価2万～3万円が相場」などと言われたため、2度にわたって土地評価をやり直し増額したと説明。地権者が示した「相場」に沿うように「希望単価」を伝えたことについて「参考として伝えた。（この値段に）近づけさせようとしたわけではない」と述べたが、「今となっては不適切だった」と陳謝した。 　委託業者は県の希望単価に沿って評価をやり直し、造成地を「平米単価1万3900円」とした。県事務所は、これにさらに3600円を上乗せし、最終的に「同1万7500円」と算定していた。この造成地の値段の高さは周囲と比べて突出していた。福岡県が24年に示した赤村の基準地価（住宅地、3カ所）は平米単価3800～6550円で、その約4・6～2・6倍に当たる。周囲の宅地の標準的な取引価格（平米単価9000円）＝坪単価2万9752円＝と比べても約1・9倍だった。 　県は会見で、この点についても「周辺の宅地価格よりも高額になっており、不適切だった」と陳謝。一方で「（増額したのは）副委員長の機嫌を損ねたくなかったわけではない。早期に用地交渉を妥結して速やかに発注したかったからだ」などと述べ、地権者にそんたくしたとの見方は否定した。 　県は今後の再発防止策として、造成費を加味するなど特殊な算定の場合は、出先機関だけでなく、本庁と協議して決めるように改めるという。【志村一也、栗栖由喜、川畑岳志、金将来】 View the full article

There was a reason Buffalo Bills running back James Cook returned to practice Tuesday. Turns out, Cook and the Bills had something in the works behind the scenes, as the 25-year-old running back reportedly inked a four-year, $48 million extension Wednesday, according to multiple reports. The deal reportedly contains $30 million in guaranteed money, the most given to a running back over the last five seasons, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Cook was seeking a new deal after rushing for 1,009 yards and scoring a career-high 16 touchdowns last season. This story will be updated. View the full article

Los funcionarios estadounidenses que se apresuraron este fin de semana a identificar y asegurar un lugar para la cumbre de este viernes entre el presidente Donald Trump y su homólogo de Rusia, Vladimir Putin, descubrieron rápidamente un gran problema: el verano es la temporada alta de turismo en Alaska y las opciones disponibles y equipadas para albergar a los dos líderes mundiales eran severamente limitadas. Cuando a ciertos prominentes habitantes de Alaska les llegó la noticia de la visita de Trump y Putin, algunos comenzaron a contactar a los aliados del presidente con una propuesta: ¿podría su casa ser una opción? No está claro si esas ofertas llegaron a los funcionarios de la Casa Blanca, quienes estaban llamando a sitios en Juneau, la capital del estado, así como en Anchorage y Fairbanks. Los organizadores de la cumbre pronto se convencieron de que la única ciudad del enorme estado con opciones viables para la cumbre sería Anchorage. Y solo la Base Conjunta Elmendorf-Richardson, en el extremo norte de la ciudad, cumpliría con los requisitos de seguridad para la histórica reunión, aunque la Casa Blanca esperaba evitar la imagen de albergar al líder de Rusia y su comitiva en una instalación militar estadounidense. Allí es donde ambos hombres se reunirán el viernes, dijeron dos funcionarios de la Casa Blanca. PUBLICIDADLa situación puso de relieve la prisa que se está viviendo ahora mismo para concretar los detalles de la reunión del viernes, la primera vez que los máximos dirigentes de Estados Unidos y Rusia se reúnen en más de cuatro años. La cumbre sigue siendo en gran medida un trabajo en curso, ya que los funcionarios estadounidenses y rusos se apresuran a preparar el encuentro de alto nivel. Los máximos diplomáticos de ambos países, el secretario de Estado Marco Rubio y el ministro de Asuntos Exteriores de Rusia, Sergey Lavrov, se reunieron el martes para discutir “ciertos aspectos de la preparación”, según el Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de Rusia. Normalmente, una cumbre de alto riesgo con un adversario de EE.UU. estaría precedida de extensas negociaciones sobre la agenda y los resultados. Pero el propio Trump ha declarado que está abordando la reunión como una sesión de tanteo, con pocas expectativas anticipadas sobre su desarrollo. El martes, la Casa Blanca la denominó una “sesión de escucha”. “El presidente piensa: ‘Mira, tengo que ver a este hombre al otro lado de la mesa. Necesito verlo cara a cara. Necesito escucharlo personalmente. Necesito hacer una evaluación observándolo’”, dijo Rubio en una entrevista radial matutina el martes con Sid Rosenberg, ofreciendo una explicación de por qué las cinco llamadas telefónicas conocidas de Trump con Putin este año no bastarían para determinar las intenciones del líder de Rusia. El presidente Donald Trump habla con las tropas estadounidenses en la Base Conjunta Elmendorf-Richardson en Anchorage, Alaska, en 2019. - Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images/ArchivoDesembarco en AlaskaLa administración Trump y el Kremlin decidieron que Alaska sería la sede de la cumbre tras un largo intercambio de ideas entre bastidores, según personas familiarizadas con el asunto. PUBLICIDADHabía pocos lugares adecuados para la reunión, dijeron las fuentes, sobre todo teniendo en cuenta la orden de arresto contra Putin por crímenes de guerra emitida por la Corte Penal Internacional en 2023. Ante esta realidad inminente, Rusia se mostró reacia a un destino europeo, incluso en ciudades como Viena o Ginebra, donde líderes estadounidenses y rusos se han reunido desde la Guerra Fría. Si bien el propio Putin planteó los Emiratos Árabes Unidos como un lugar “totalmente adecuado”, muchos en la Casa Blanca esperaban evitar otro largo viaje a Medio Oriente tras la visita de Trump en mayo. Al final, según dijeron las fuentes, todo se redujo a Hungría (cuyo primer ministro Viktor Orbán es cercano tanto a Trump como a Putin) y Estados Unidos como posibles anfitriones, según dos funcionarios estadounidenses. Los funcionarios de EE.UU. se mostraron complacidos y algo sorprendidos cuando el presidente de Rusia aceptó una reunión en suelo estadounidense, en una tierra que una vez fue parte del imperio ruso, nada menos. “Pensé que era muy respetuoso que el presidente de Rusia viniera a nuestro país en lugar de que nosotros fuéramos a su país o incluso a un tercer lugar”, dijo Trump esta semana, mientras su equipo se apresuraba a ultimar los detalles de la cumbre. PUBLICIDADOtros no estaban tan contentos. “El único lugar mejor para Putin que Alaska sería que la cumbre se celebrara en Moscú”, dijo John Bolton, exasesor de seguridad nacional de Trump, quien tuvo un desacuerdo con el republicano durante su primer mandato. “Así que, creo que la configuración inicial es una gran victoria para Putin”. Una mujer con un teléfono celular camina junto a un mapa de Alaska el 9 de julio de 2022 en Anchorage, Alaska. - Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesReuniones anteriores con PutinLa última vez que un presidente de EE.UU. se reunió con Putin —la cumbre del presidente Joe Biden de 2021 en Ginebra— la fecha y el lugar se anunciaron con tres semanas de antelación. Sin embargo, la planificación entre funcionarios rusos y estadounidenses comenzó meses antes. Biden, en una gira de una semana por Europa, dedicó los días previos a la reunión a una preparación intensiva con sus principales asesores, reservando tiempo por las mañanas para analizar las posibles direcciones que podría tomar la conversación y anticipar algunas de las acciones de Putin. Consultó a otros líderes, incluida la canciller de Alemania, para obtener consejos sobre cómo abordar al notoriamente astuto líder de Rusia. PUBLICIDADPara cuando llegó la cumbre, los asistentes habían planeado el día hasta el último detalle, incluyendo el orden de llegada de los líderes, la duración de cada sesión y el tipo de flor que se colocaría sobre la mesa (rosas blancas). Los funcionarios de EE.UU. incluso se aseguraron de que hubiera botellas de Gatorade de naranja, etiquetadas como “POTUS”, dentro de un refrigerador en la villa del siglo XVIII donde tuvo lugar la reunión. Durante el primer mandato de Trump, él y Putin se reunieron en Helsinki, Finlandia, durante una cumbre en 2018 que culminó con un momento memorable: Trump se puso del lado de Putin en contra de las agencias de inteligencia estadounidenses en el asunto de la interferencia rusa en las elecciones. Trump también se reunió a solas con Putin en 2017, durante su primer encuentro en la cumbre del G20 en Hamburgo. Misterio sobre el origen de la reuniónSi bien funcionarios de EE.UU. y Rusia han mantenido extensas conversaciones para preparar la reunión desde que se acordó la semana pasada, el encuentro que la motivó sigue siendo un misterio. El enviado exterior de Trump, Steve Witkoff, visitó Moscú el miércoles pasado para reunirse con Putin, lo que resultó en la decisión de un encuentro, aunque aún se desconoce en gran medida qué dijo Putin exactamente en la cita. Los funcionarios europeos pasaron gran parte de la última semana tratando de determinar los parámetros de un acuerdo de paz que Putin ofreció, pero algunos dijeron que estaban frustrados por la falta de claridad ofrecida por Witkoff, un desarrollador inmobiliario y viejo amigo de Trump. Trump tiene previsto escuchar a los líderes de Europa en una reunión virtual este miércoles, organizada por Alemania para que el presidente pueda conocer sus puntos de vista antes de la reunión del viernes. Y ha prometido hablar por teléfono con ellos, junto con el presidente de Ucrania, Volodymyr Zelensky, inmediatamente después de que concluya la cumbre. Pero no se espera que Zelensky esté en Alaska para la reunión, por lo que cualquier posible encuentro trilateral está descartado por ahora. En lugar de eso, Trump pasará al menos parte de la reunión cumbre con Putin uno a uno, dijo la Casa Blanca este martes, dando tiempo para que los dos hombres mantengan una discusión que nadie más escuchará, salvo sus traductores. “Eso es parte del plan”, dijo la secretaria de prensa de la Casa Blanca, Karoline Leavitt, al ser preguntada si los dos presidentes se reunirían a solas. “En cuanto a los demás detalles y la logística, dejaré que nuestro equipo los aborde cuando estén resueltos”. No es raro que los líderes se reúnan a solas con sus homólogos, pero la relación entre Trump y Putin ha sido objeto de un intenso escrutinio. Y durante el primer mandato de Trump, incluso altos funcionarios dijeron que a veces se les dejaba al margen de lo que se discutía cuando se excluía a los asesores. En las dos reuniones anteriores de Trump con Putin, en ambas ocasiones participaron traductores, pero no asesores de alto rango. Después de la reunión en Alemania, Trump supuestamente pidió a su traductor sus notas. Por su parte, Putin ha pasado los días previos a la reunión del viernes haciendo llamadas telefónicas a sus aliados globales restantes, incluidos algunos que han organizado sus propias cumbres de alto perfil con Trump. Esto incluía al dictador de Corea del Sur Kim Jong Un, dijo el Kremlin el martes, quien se reunió tres veces con Trump durante su primer mandato, pero aún no ha abandonado sus armas nucleares. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Síguenos en WhatsAppTAMBIÉN TE PUEDE INTERESAR | EN VIDEO Zelenski y líderes europeos intentan influir en Trump antes de su reunión con Putin View the full article

Hà Nội FC nhấn mạnh mùa bóng 2025/26 là mùa “ký ức và khát vọng” khi đội bóng kỷ niệm 20 năm thành lập. Bởi vậy, tại lễ xuất quân ngày 13/8, Hà Nội FC không ngần ngại đặt mục tiêu "giành vị trí cao nhất" ở LPBank V-League lẫn Cup Quốc gia. Hà Nội FC tự tin đặt mục tiêu vô địch tại V-League lẫn Cup Quốc gia “20 năm qua, Hà Nội FC đã cùng viết nên một câu chuyện đầy tự hào, với những chức vô địch, những trận đấu đáng nhớ, và hơn hết, là tình yêu bóng đá bền bỉ của hàng triệu con tim Thủ đô. Mùa giải 2025/26, bên cạnh hướng tới mục tiêu giành kết quả tốt nhất, tôi cũng nhấn mạnh thêm rằng: Sứ mệnh của Hà Nội FC luôn là thi đấu với tinh thần cao nhất không chỉ trên sân cỏ, mà còn ghi dấu ấn trong trái tim người hâm mộ", Chủ tịch Hà Nội FC Đỗ Vinh Quang nói. Ngoài thành tích, Chủ tịch Hà Nội FC Đỗ Vinh Quang muốn đội bóng 'ghi dấu trong trái tim người hâm mộ" HLV Makoto Teguramori cho biết, Hà Nội FC đã làm việc chăm chỉ trong giai đoạn chuẩn bị và "tinh thần đoàn kết, sự bền bỉ và khát khao chiến thắng là chìa khoá để Hà Nội FC giành được kết quả tốt". Mùa này, Hà Nội FC tập trung gia cố bằng ngoại binh như Adriel da Silva, Willian Maranhao, đăng ký Hendrio theo suất nhập tịch. Ông Teguramori tự tin, Hà Nội FC có thể cạnh tranh sòng phẳng với CAHN, Nam Định, Thể Công Viettel, CATPHCM trong cuộc đua vô địch. Trang phục Hà Nội FC được thiết kế riêng trong mùa bóng kỷ niệm 20 năm thành lập Trong ngày 13/8, Hà Nội FC Store cũng đã khai trương tại khán đài A sân Hàng Đẫy. Dự án tham vọng này của Hà Nội FC nhằm phát triển thương hiệu, đồng thời biến Hà Nội FC Store thành điểm hẹn của cộng đồng fan, nơi diễn ra các hoạt động tương tác: ký tặng, gặp gỡ cầu thủ, ra mắt mẫu áo mới… V-League 2025/26 rất căng, vé xuống hạng gọi tên HAGL? V-League 2025/26 được dự báo rất căng khi xuất hiện nhiều ứng viên ở cuộc đua tới ngôi vô địch. Cũng vì điều này, mùa giải tới HAGL rất dễ phải đua trụ hạng. Tuyển nữ Việt Nam có hành động đặc biệt ở trận thắng Thái Lan Tuyển nữ Việt Nam ăn mừng bàn thắng duy nhất vào lưới Thái Lan cùng chiếc áo thi đấu số 16 của tiền vệ Dương Thị Vân - người gặp chấn thương nặng ở trận thắng Indonesia. Lịch thi đấu giải vô địch bóng đá nữ Đông Nam Á 2025 mới nhất Lịch thi đấu AFF Cup nữ 2025 - Cung cấp lịch thi đấu Giải vô địch bóng đá nữ Đông Nam Á 2025, được tổ chức tại Việt Nam từ ngày 6/8 - 19/9/2025. View the full article

“Cùng Việt Nam tiến bước” là một hoạt động cộng đồng có quy mô và ý nghĩa chưa từng có, diễn ra vào đúng thời khắc đặc biệt khi cả nước đang bước vào một giai đoạn phát triển mới cùng với việc sắp xếp lại các đơn vị hành chính. Lần đầu tiên, một hoạt động đi bộ được diễn ra đồng loạt tại 34 tỉnh, thành phố với 3.321 xã, phường và đặc khu hành chính trên toàn quốc. Ông Lê Quốc Minh - Ủy viên BCH Trung ương Đảng, Tổng Biên tập Báo Nhân Dân, Thiếu tướng Lê Hồng Hiệp - Phó Cục trưởng Cục Công tác chính trị Bộ Công an (bên phải) tặng hoa cho đại diện các doanh nghiệp đồng hành chương trình “Cùng Việt Nam tiến bước”. Bà Đoàn Hồng Nhung, Thành viên Ban Điều hành, Giám đốc Khối Bán lẻ Vietcombank - thứ 3 từ trái sang, cùng các nhà tài trợ khác Từ ngày 25/07 đến ngày 16/08/2025, người dân cả nước có thể đăng ký trực tuyến trên cổng thông tin điện tử chính thức: cungvietnamtienbuoc.nhandan.vn và bắt đầu ghi nhận bước chân đóng góp vào hành trình mang thông điệp "1 tỷ bước chân tiến vào kỷ nguyên mới" - một hoạt động thiết thực thể hiện lòng yêu nước. Đặc biệt, vào lúc 6h00 - 7h30 ngày 16/08/2025, những người tham gia chương trình trên toàn quốc sẽ khoác lên mình áo cờ đỏ sao vàng, cùng hướng về Quảng trường Ba Đình lịch sử theo dõi lễ thượng cờ Tổ quốc, đồng loạt hát Quốc ca, cùng tiến bước vì một Việt Nam đoàn kết, hùng cường và bền vững. Đây không chỉ là một sự kiện thể thao hưởng ứng cuộc vận động “Toàn dân rèn luyện thân thể theo gương Bác Hồ vĩ đại” và phong trào “Khỏe để xây dựng và bảo vệ Tổ quốc”, mà còn là hành trình của triệu trái tim cùng hòa nhịp - nơi hội tụ mọi thế hệ, mọi tầng lớp nhân dân từ trung ương đến địa phương, từ thành thị đến nông thôn, miền núi, vùng sâu, vùng xa. Mỗi địa phương cùng góp một phần sức mạnh cùng chung bước vì một mục tiêu lớn lao: vì một Việt Nam đoàn kết, mạnh mẽ, sẵn sàng vươn mình bước vào kỷ nguyên mới - kỷ nguyên của khát vọng dân tộc, của tinh thần tiến bước vì tương lai hùng cường. Các đại biểu chụp ảnh lưu niệm tại sự kiện Bên cạnh đó, mỗi bước chân được ghi nhận thông qua nền tảng số của chiến dịch sẽ trở thành một “bước xanh” - một hành động nhỏ nhưng mang ý nghĩa lớn, góp phần giảm thải khí carbon, nâng cao nhận thức về bảo vệ môi trường và hướng tới mục tiêu Net Zero của quốc gia. Ông Lê Quốc Minh phát biểu Ông Lê Quốc Minh - Ủy viên BCH Trung ương Đảng, Tổng Biên tập Báo Nhân Dân, Trưởng ban Chỉ đạo hoạt động “Cùng Việt Nam tiến bước” chia sẻ: “Báo Nhân Dân, với sứ mệnh và trách nhiệm của một cơ quan báo chí hàng đầu của cả nước, đã chủ động và tích cực lan tỏa những thông tin tuyên truyền hiệu quả đường lối, chính sách của Đảng và Nhà nước, là diễn đàn của nhân dân, ngày càng tiếp cận đông đảo công chúng. Báo Nhân Dân mong muốn tổ chức những chương trình văn hóa - nghệ thuật, thể thao, hoạt động xã hội có ý nghĩa với cộng đồng. “Cùng Việt Nam tiến bước” đã tạo nên một hoạt động chưa từng có, vì một Việt Nam khỏe mạnh và vì một Việt Nam xanh, được đông đảo các cấp, các ngành và người dân ủng hộ, hưởng ứng tích cực”. Bà Đoàn Hồng Nhung chia sẻ Đại diện đơn vị đồng hành cùng chương trình, bà Đoàn Hồng Nhung - Thành viên Ban Điều hành, Giám đốc Khối Bán lẻ Vietcombank chia sẻ: Vietcombank cam kết đóng góp 3 tỷ đồng và kêu gọi khách hàng cùng chung tay lan tỏa thông điệp "1 tỷ bước xanh" bằng cách chuyển tiền ủng hộ vào tài khoản “Cùng em tiến bước” thuộc Quỹ Bảo trợ trẻ em Việt Nam. Từ ngày 5/8/2025 đến hết ngày 3/9/2025, Vietcombank triển khai chương trình ưu đãi với ngân sách lên tới 2,4 tỷ đồng để các khách hàng mới có thêm cơ hội lan tỏa yêu thương tới các em học sinh nghèo vượt khó. Thông qua hành trình "1 tỷ bước xanh", Vietcombank không chỉ hưởng ứng lời hiệu triệu 34 tỉnh, thành phố gắn kết, lan tỏa tinh thần rèn luyện thể thao và bảo vệ môi trường, mà còn trực tiếp góp phần kết nối triệu trái tim Việt, lan tỏa những giá trị nhân văn, tiếp thêm năng lượng tích cực để cùng đất nước tiến bước vào kỷ nguyên mới. Chương trình "1 tỷ bước xanh" được Viecombank chính thức triển khai từ ngày 05/08/2025 và nhận được sự ủng hộ to lớn từ các khách hàng hiện hữu cũng như khách hàng mới với số tiền đóng góp tăng lên hàng ngày. Chỉ trong gần một tuần triển khai (đến 11/8/2025), khách hàng Vietcombank đã đóng góp 600 triệu đồng cho Quỹ Bảo trợ trẻ em Việt Nam. Ngân hàng sẽ công khai tổng số tiền đóng góp khi chương trình kết thúc. Thúy Ngà View the full article

ANKARA (AP) — Israel and Kurdish fighters should stop threatening the security and stability of Syria, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Wednesday. Speaking at a news conference in Ankara with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, Fidan accused Israel and the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, of undermining the country’s efforts to reestablish itself after more than a decade of civil war. He said Israel had “fueled certain difficulties” in Syria and warned that Israeli security "cannot be achieved through undermining the security of your neighbors." “To the contrary, you should make sure your neighboring countries are prosperous and secure. If you try to destabilize these countries, if you take steps to that end, this could trigger other crises in the region.” Since Islamist-led insurgents ousted former President Bashar Assad in a rebel offensive in December, the new interim government in Damascus has struggled to maintain stability and heal the wounds of the nearly 14-year civil war. Most recently, hundreds were killed in clashes in the southern province of Sweida between government forces and local Bedouin tribesmen on one side and fighters from the country’s Druze minority on the other. Meanwhile, tensions have also risen between the central government and the U.S.-allied SDF that controls northeastern Syria. Implementation of an agreement reached in March to merge the SDF with the new Syrian army has stalled and there have been scattered outbreaks of violence between the two sides. Fidan accused the SDF of trying to turn instability in Syria into an “opportunity for themselves.” Ankara views the SDF with hostility as the group is spearheaded by the People’s Protection Units, or YPG, affiliated with the Kurdish group that recently entered a peace process with Turkey after more than 40 years of fighting. The SDF has said it is not party to the deal between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK. “The upper echelons of the YPG need to stop stalling because the chaos they’re waiting for (in Syria) will not take place, and even if it does, it will not be to their advantage,” Fidan said. He added: “They shouldn’t take us for fools. We have good intentions, but that doesn’t mean we will turn a blind eye to your mischievous or devious ways.” Turkey has been supportive of Syria’s new administration, which is formed largely by rebels that Ankara backed during the civil war. “Every actor in the region is not as constructive as us,” Fidan said. “There are certain people who have been meddling in the affairs of Syria, chief among whom is the Israeli administration.” Al-Shibani, meanwhile, said Israel’s actions “undermine the security of our citizens,” adding that “certain countries want Syria to disintegrate based on ideologies, based on ethnicity, and obviously we are against all these efforts.” View the full article

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told Iran's visiting security chief on Wednesday that he rejected any interference in the country's internal affairs, branding as "unconstructive" Iran's statements on plans to disarm Hezbollah. Iran's Supreme National Security Council chief Ali Larijani's visit to Lebanon comes after the Lebanese government ordered the army to devise plans to disarm the Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Following his arrival in Beirut, Larijani vowed that his government would continue to provide support, after it expressed opposition to the disarmament plan. "We reject any interference in our internal affairs," Aoun said, adding that "it is forbidden for anyone... to bear arms and to use foreign backing as leverage," according to a statement from the Lebanese presidency posted on X. Iran and its so-called "axis of resistance" have suffered a series of blows in their long-running rivalry with Israel. Iran and Israel went to war in June, with the United States stepping in briefly to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities. Hezbollah suffered devastating losses in a year of hostilities with Israel that ended with a November 2024 ceasefire. A month later, Syria's president Bashar al-Assad was ousted, depriving Hezbollah of its main conduit for weapons and supplies from Iran. Iran has declared its firm opposition to the Lebanese government's bid to disarm Hezbollah, while the movement itself has slammed the decision as a "grave sin". - Weakening grip - Before the war with Israel, Hezbollah was believed to be better armed than the Lebanese military. It long maintained it had to keep its arsenal in order to defend Lebanon from attack, but critics accused it of using its weapons for political leverage. In Beirut, Larijani vowed continued support. "If... the Lebanese people are suffering, we in Iran will also feel this pain and we will stand by the dear people of Lebanon in all circumstances," Larijani told reporters. As well as President Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Larijani was due to meet parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who is close to Hezbollah. Hezbollah's grip on power has slipped since the ceasefire with Israel and the new Lebanese government, backed by the United States, has moved to further restrain it. Iran's "axis of resistance" is a network of armed groups in the region, including Hamas in Gaza and Yemen's Huthi rebels, united in their opposition to Israel. lar/ser/kir View the full article

A new report warns that red states are quietly adopting liberal policies — including DEI mandates, ESG investing, and gender ideology — even under Republican leadership, due to deep-rooted influence from national bureaucratic organizations. The State Leadership Initiative (SLI), a group focused on state-level policy reform, argues in its "Shadow Government" report that unelected national associations are embedding progressive ideologies into state bureaucracies across the country, regardless of who voters elect. "Conservative leaders are fond of declaring victory," the report reads. "They win elections, pass legislation, and appoint agency heads with great fanfare, yet, on issue after issue, the administrative state trudges forward in open defiance of their mandate: enforcing equity initiatives, embedding climate policy, and advancing bureaucratic priorities wholly alien to the voters who ostensibly elected the government. This disconnect is not incidental. It is structural." The report claims that dozens of well-funded national associations — often branded as nonpartisan or professional groups — are responsible for this "shadow governance." These organizations set policy frameworks, distribute federal funding and provide "best practices" guidance that often aligns with left-wing values. Democratic Party Tensions Seep Into Bipartisan Group As Governors Resisting Trump's Agenda Reconsider Dues A new report from the State Leadership Initiative says that conservative states are still espousing liberal policies.Groups named in the report include the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST), National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) and the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE). Read On The Fox News App "Every single one of these associations pushes DEI," SLI founder and president Noah Wall told Fox News Digital. "It doesn’t matter how specific—whether it's a fish and wildlife group or a treasury department—DEI is a core part of their programming." Wall said SLI examined 23 of the largest associations for the report and found widespread adoption of progressive agendas, including diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles and gender ideology initiatives. The report characterizes the influence of these organizations as a form of "shadow governance," where state bureaucrats adopt ideological frameworks from national partners without input from lawmakers or voters. "The ideological left does not need to win a single statehouse so long as it controls the bureaucratic bloodstream," the report claims. The State Leadership Initiative warns that this arrangement allows DEI programming to persist in state transportation departments, ESG investing standards to dictate financial strategy and gender ideology to shape school curricula — even in states where voters oppose these ideas. State treasurers may object to ESG investment criteria, but find that national rankings and training frameworks still push those standards. A superintendent may oppose gender-affirming school policies, but still face accreditation pressure from a national group that insists on "inclusive pedagogy." In short, the report argues that these associations have created a parallel system of governance — one that functions independently of voter oversight and continues to advance a progressive agenda even under conservative administrations. North Carolina Governor Vetoes Republican-led Anti Dei And Trans Legislation The problem, Noah Wall, founder and president of the State Leadership Initiative, told Fox News Digital in an interview, is that national associations which work throughout the state bring agendas like DEI with them.In one example, the report alleges that the NAMD pushed equity — not outcomes — as a top priority of Medicaid reform. In the NAMD 2021 Regulatory Priorities document, the group lists 11 "broad issues" that Medicaid directors could focus on to improve state Medicaid programs. The first priority listed was "advancing equity in Medicaid" and it stated, "Equity work should include a focus on racial and ethnic minorities, rural populations, Tribal populations, and any other groups experiencing disparate health outcomes, with an understanding that inequities are multidimensional and often fall across multiple population characteristics or categories. We also see discrete areas where focus would be beneficial, bearing in mind that the work to advance equity in Medicaid is holistic and branches across all issue domains." The National Association of Medicaid Directors did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Another example was NAST having a standing DEI committee and alleging that the group was embedding DEI into hiring and treasury operations. In 2022, the chair of the DEI committee shared a message with other members of NAST highlighting the DEI work in her state and how she and others on the committee were working to share best practices on how to incorporate DEI policies in their state. "Our goal is to gather resources to support our fellow treasurers. We plan to send out a survey to gather information on DE&I initiatives in the different states, similar to the successful approach we used with Financial Education several years ago. The results from this survey will be shared with everyone and could provide a basis for us to host future panels and webinars to support each other’s strategies," Deborah B. Goldberg, who was the Massachusetts State Treasurer, wrote. She also shared how her state prioritized hiring a diverse workforce and how it benefited the treasury workforce. "By starting with a diverse transition team and utilizing more extensive outreach we found that an exceptional talent pool began applying for positions in our various offices. And over the years, we have seen how diversity benefits and enriches our entire Treasury workforce," she wrote. "We truly pride ourselves in promoting DE&I within our office. Even though we are the most diverse office in the Massachusetts state government, we do not rest on our laurels. Our Treasury team began hosting monthly DE&I educational events in February of 2019, created a formal DE&I policy in December of 2020, and implemented a DE&I Strategic plan in August of 2021. We have developed a DE&I Working Group and DE&I Champions who meet regularly to brainstorm new ways to pursue DE&I in our offices and update one another on the accomplishment of department specific goals." When reached for comment, NAST said the DEI committee in 2022 was an ad hoc committee and those committees expire at the end of the year, and they currently do not have a DEI committee. They also noted to Fox News Digital that Goldberg's DEI work was within her own office and not NAST. The report also accused NASBE of pushing gender-inclusive curricula, pronoun policies and resisting restrictions on transgender sports participation — even in red states. In a 2020 report titled, "Removing Barriers to LGBTQ Student Safety and Achievement," NASBE shared the need for states to issue guidance on the needs of transgender students. The report suggested that states address the "discriminatory school policies limiting their access to facilities" for transgender students and maintaining school records that reflect the gender identity and pronouns of students. The guidance, according to the report, was in response to "the proliferation of potentially harmful legislation at the state level." The National Association of State Boards of Education declined to comment. A top priority, according to Noah Wall, founder and president of the State Leadership Initiative, is to end DEI working groups.Wall argued that Republican governors and lawmakers have underestimated the scale of the problem. "They’re not just sharing best practices," Wall said. "They’re setting the internal culture of state agencies and implementing federal priorities under the radar. Even conservative states are running progressive policies out of habit." To address what it calls "shadow governance," the State Leadership Initiative outlines a series of recommendations aimed at helping conservative governors and lawmakers reclaim authority over state agencies. First, the report urges a full audit of every national association to which state agencies belong. This includes reviewing how much taxpayer money is spent on dues, how much influence these groups have over policy, and whether their agendas align with state law. It encourages states to withdraw from associations that are in direct conflict with their legislative priorities and to require legislative approval before renewing any membership. The report also calls for an end to the automatic adoption of "model policies" and "best practices" by national associations. Instead, SLI recommends executive orders that prevent agencies from implementing these guidelines without in-state review and oversight from elected officials. It also calls on states to prohibit public funds from being used to support DEI training or performance metrics, which the group describes as ideological Trojan horses. "We think that Republican governors in particular need to make sure that they're sending people to these associations, knowing the problems that these associations have had in the past," Wall said. "And I don't think they have. So our goal is to educate Republican governors about the scale of the problem and make sure that they condition future membership on reforms." Original article source: New report accuses bureaucrats of running ‘shadow government’ pushing DEI, gender ideology in red states View the full article

Tropical Storm Erin continues to move quickly to the west and is expected to begin strengthening today, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Forecasters are now encouraging residents in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and northern Leeward Islands to closely monitor Erin, which is expected to begin strengthening today. ➤ Track all active storms ➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location Erin is expected to become a hurricane late Thursday, Aug. 14 or early Friday, Aug. 15 and strengthen into a major hurricane within the next 96 hours. A major hurricane is one that's a Category 3 or higher, with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph. The impact Erin could have on Florida and the U.S. remains uncertain as of Wednesday morning but officials also encourage residents to monitor the storm. "There is even greater uncertainty in what impacts might occur in portions of the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, the east coast of the United States, and Bermuda next week," the National Hurricane Center. Forecasters reminded everyone that the forecast cone has an average error of 150 to 215 statute miles in the days 4 and 5 forecast. It's also important to remember that the cone represents where the center of the storm could be. The fifth-named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, Erin formed earlier than the historical average of Aug. 22. The average date for the first hurricane is Aug. 11, and the first major hurricane typically does not occur until Sept. 1, according to AccuWeather. Tropical Storm Erin update, pathSpecial note on the NHC cone: The forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time. Location: 1,400 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands Maximum sustained winds: 45 mph Movement: west at 20 mph Pressure: 1,004 mb Next advisory: 11 a.m. ET When will Tropical Storm Erin become a hurricane?The National Hurricane Center predicted Erin will likely become a hurricane by late Thursday Aug. 14 or early Friday. Erin is expected to continue strengthening, becoming a major hurricane with winds estimated at 115 mph by early Sunday morning. Spaghetti models for Tropical Storm Erin. Where is the storm going?Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts. ➤ Track Tropical Storm Erin Is there a hurricane coming to Florida?No tropical storm — or hurricane — watches or warnings have been issued for Florida or the United States, and it's too early to tell whether Erin will impact the U.S., according to the National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service and Florida Division of Emergency Management. "There is even greater uncertainty in what impacts might occur in portions of the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, the east coast of the United States, and Bermuda next week," the Hurricane Center said. How strong is Tropical Storm Erin and where could it go? See the scenariosThe National Hurricane Center said Tropical Storm Erin is expected to begin strengthening today, Aug. 13 and become a hurricane by late Thursday or early Friday and a Category 3 hurricane by Sunday, Aug. 17 as it moves out of an area with dry area and "marginal" sea surface temperatures. Erin is expected to continue moving west across the Atlantic but is expected to turn to the west-northwest as it encounters a weakness in a "ridge" to its north. Exactly where that turn takes place remains uncertain. "There is even greater uncertainty in what impacts might occur in portions of the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, the east coast of the United States, and Bermuda next week," the National Hurricane Center said. "Users are reminded that NHC track forecasts have an average error of 150-215 statute miles at days four and five, and future adjustments to the forecast are still possible." "At the very least, building seas will pose threats for small craft and larger ocean-going vessels over the western Atlantic. Increasing surf and rip currents will pose dangers for swimmers over much of the U.S. Atlantic coast and Bermuda," AccuWeather forecasters said. "The amount of wind and rain that occurs over the northeastern Caribbean islands and the Bahamas will depend on Erin's size, intensity and its ability to pull moisture northward from the Caribbean." "Erin will be guided along by the northeast trade winds initially and then the clockwise circulation around the massive Bermuda High over the central Atlantic," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said. "It is the shape of that oceanic high, as well as the approach of a cool front and dip in the jet stream near the Atlantic Coast, that will determine the exact track of the projected major hurricane as it approaches the Atlantic Coast of the United States next week." The scenarios, according to AccuWeather are: "If the Bermuda High remains fairly round or yields to the approaching cool front and jet stream dip, Erin is likely to turn to the north before reaching the U.S. "If the Bermuda High extends well to the west, it could block the potential major hurricane's northward path. The result would be a potential track very close to or onshore in the U.S., probably somewhere from the Carolinas north." Key messages from the National Hurricane Center: What you need to know about Tropical Storm ErinErin could move close enough to the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico over the weekend to produce some impacts on those islands. However, the magnitude of those impacts is still not known, and interests there should continue to monitor the progress of this storm. Swells generated by Erin will begin affecting portions of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by this weekend. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. There is even greater uncertainty in what impacts might occur in portions of the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, the east coast of the United States, and Bermuda next week. Erin is expected to become a hurricane by late Thursday or early Friday and a major hurricane by Sunday morning. NHC track forecasts have an average error of 120-180 nautical miles (150-215 statute miles) at days four and five, and future adjustments to the forecast are still possible. Current forecast: How strong could Tropical Storm Erin get?At 5 a.m.: 45 mph 12 hours: 50 mph 24 hours: 60 mph 36 hours: 65 mph 48 hours: 75 mph 60 hours: 85 mph 72 hours: 100 mph 96 hours: 115 mph 120 hours: 115 mph Will Tropical Storm Erin impact Florida? What other areas could be affected?It's still early to tell yet what impacts Tropical Storm Erin could have on Florida or the United States, although forecasters said rough surf and dangerous rip currents are possible along the east coast as Erin approaches. Officials warn residents should be prepared and closely monitor the storm that's expected to become a major hurricane by Sunday. "There is even greater uncertainty in what impacts, if any, might occur in ... the east coast of the United States ... next week," the National Hurricane Center said at 5 a.m. Aug. 13. ➤ Excessive rainfall forecast Swells generated by Erin will begin affecting portions of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico by this weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center. "These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions." Interactive map: What tropical storms, hurricanes have impacted your area in the past?Stay informed. Get weather alerts via textWhat's next?We will update our tropical weather coverage daily. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Tropical Storm Erin tracker, spaghetti models. Strengthening expected View the full article

A woman is accused of posing as a nurse and providing care to thousands of patients at a Florida hospital, deputies said. Autumn Bardisa, 29, was arrested and charged Aug. 5 after a seven-month investigation revealed she had been working at AdventHealth Palm Coast without a valid nursing license, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said in an Aug. 6 statement. She was charged with seven counts each of practicing a health care profession without a license and fraudulent use of personal identification information. AdventHealth said it could not comment when reached about the case in an Aug. 7 email to McClatchy News. “This is one of the most disturbing cases of medical fraud we’ve ever investigated,” Sheriff Rick Staly said in the release. After Bardisa was promoted in January, an employee found she had been working with an expired certified nursing assistant license since starting her job at AdventHealth in 2023, deputies said. Between June 2024 and January 2025, Bardisa provided medical services to 4,486 patients, according to deputies. The investigation discovered Bardisa had submitted false documentation and used the license number of a nurse at a different hospital who shared her first name, deputies said. When asked about the different last name, she told administrators she’d recently gotten married, but she never provided a marriage license, deputies said. Bardisa was terminated at the end of January after she couldn’t prove her identity, according to deputies. “This woman potentially put thousands of lives at risk by pretending to be someone she was not,” Staly said. She was taken to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, and her bond was set at $70,000, deputies said. Palm Coast is about an 80-mile drive northeast from Orlando. View the full article

An anti-redistricting rally attracted hundreds to the Indiana Statehouse on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle) “Optically horrible.” A “hard no.” In “bad form.” Hoosier leaders might be busy taking behind-the-scenes feedback on the prospect of early redistricting, but rank-and-file Republicans are increasingly going public with their opposition. Statehouse lawmakers redraw districts after each decennial census. They last did so in 2021, and population data shows little change since then. Indiana Democrats, meanwhile, are joining forces with their Texan counterparts to protest the move, just days after they led hundreds of Hoosiers in a rally to oppose early redistricting. President Donald Trump is pushing Texas and other GOP-led states like Indiana to redistrict ahead of the 2026 midterm elections to ensure a Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives for the rest of his second term. I think it's bad form, I think it's inadvisable. It's probably contrary to Indiana law, and I've expressed my reservation about it to some of our elected leadership. – Former GOP Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma “On one hand, we feel unlikely as a candidate to approach redistricting. We’ve got seven out of our nine congressional districts (that) are solidly Republican,” said Laura Merrifield Wilson, a political science professor at the University of Indianapolis. “… You would think you would go after states where you get more than one.” Democratic U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan holds the state’s most competitive congressional district, located in northwest Indiana. The heavily Democratic, Indianapolis district held by Rep. André Carson would be a tougher flip. But, Wilson said, that GOP strength is also what makes Indiana an “appealing” target from the federal perspective: a “very amenable, very friendly” executive in Gov. Mike Braun and legislative supermajorities in both of the Statehouse’s chambers. “You’re looking at a state where you could reasonably get the support you need,” she added. That’s if lawmakers actually want to do it. Rank-and-file Republicans speak outGov. Mike Braun has stayed noncommittal on the possibility he’d call a special session for early redistricting. The next legislative session is set to organize for only one day in late November before coming back in January — possibly too late to finalize maps by February candidate filing deadlines. He’s looking to Texas — and Indiana’s own lawmakers. Braun noncommittal on early redistricting; decision to depend on Texas action and Indiana lawmakers The Indiana General Assembly has complete control in redrawing district lines. There’s no nonpartisan commission. A gubernatorial veto can be overturned with simple majority votes. House Speaker Todd Huston and Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, who lead Republican supermajorities in the state’s House and Senate, haven’t yet made their stances clear. But members are. Multiple have described themselves as a “hard no,” including Reps. Danny Lopez of Carmel and Jim Lucas of Seymour. “Just a few years ago, our General Assembly undertook the complex redistricting process based on up-to-date census data, drawing fair maps that ensure every Hoosier vote counts,” Lopez, who took office last year, wrote on X. “We should stand by that work.” Lucas called the possibility “highly unusual and politically optically horrible.” “I don’t believe Republicans should stoop to the level of Democrats on this issue. Republicans hold about 90% of all local offices statewide and once the voter rolls get purged of illegals, we will hold an even more commanding lead,” he wrote on Facebook. “Democrats can’t compete with their Socialist policies and ideology and if there are seats that need targeted, we should do it the old fashioned way and campaign harder in those districts.” Mooresville Rep. Craig Haggard emphasized that Indiana is a “solid Republican state” that has gone for Trump three times in a statement to the Capital Chronicle on Monday. He added that he’s been “hearing from constituents and I do not believe at this time there is an appetite for redistricting in our communities.” Indiana’s congressional district boundaries.WEHT reported that Wadesville Sen. Jim Tomes doesn’t think redistricting is needed right now because the lines are fairly drawn. He similarly noted the GOP is in good shape for the midterms. Wilson believes the risks are more severe for GOP legislators as opposed to Braun. They “don’t want to be seen as anti-Trump,” but are “maybe most vulnerable (to) the criticism” since they’d be handling any redistricting legislation — and attaching their names to it. Former GOP House Speaker Brian Bosma said he’s “glad” lawmakers are speaking up. He oversaw the 2011 redistricting that involved hearing from constituents in nine different cities before crafting new maps, and was in the General Assembly through three redistricting cycles in all. He recalled how, as a brand-new floor leader in 1995, he resisted efforts to redraw Statehouse districts early. “I think it’s bad form, I think it’s inadvisable. It’s probably contrary to Indiana law, and I’ve expressed my reservation about it to some of our elected leadership,” Bosma said. “The leaders I’ve talked to, and I’ve talked to the top down, are not thrilled about this prospect but because other states are expressing support for this, there’s pressure to do it.” Democrats push to preventAcross the aisle, meanwhile, Democrats hope to sway public opinion against early redistricting. Members of the Indiana House Democratic Caucus are joining forces with their Texan counterparts to host a news conference in Illinois on Wednesday. Texas House Democrats fled the Lone Star State to block redistricting legislation there. “Together, the two House Caucuses will explain the serious danger mid-term redistricting plans pose to the legitimacy of our democracy,” a news release said. “Democrats in Texas and Indiana will continue to stand up and reject Trump’s demands to rig an election.” The Indiana Democratic Party has also been active. Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke of Texas drew hundreds to an Indianapolis town hall last Sunday, while hundreds more attended a Statehouse protest on Thursday that was headlined by Mrvan, Carson, and an array of state-level Democratic lawmakers. Indiana Democratic Party Chair Karen Tallian noted both events were organized with “a couple days notice.” She hopes to keep that momentum going, and didn’t rule out the possibility of more rallies. Indiana Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Tallian. (Provided photo)“We need public outrage and pressure before they ever make the decision that they’re going to call a special session,” she told the Capital Chronicle. “If you could prevent them from calling a special session, … that’s the best possible solution.” Tallian, who served more than 15 years in Indiana’s Senate, maintains the current districts already offer Republicans outsized benefits, arguing the seven-two congressional split doesn’t reflect the Indiana electorate. Voters generally went about 60%-40% in favor of statewide Republicans in the 2024 election. “How greedy can you get? ‘Oh, they’ve got two. We want all of them,'” she said of the GOP. Tallian said Democrats considered suing over redistricting in 2011 and 2021. “Frankly, I’m still hoping that we can bring a gerrymandering lawsuit based on their current maps,” she said. “And now they want to come and do it again? It’s just, it’s outrageous.” The Indiana Republican Party didn’t reply to multiple requests for comment on early redistricting. Demographic change a factorSome are open to the idea. “Northwest Indiana, there’s a lot of people migrating there from the state of Illinois. It’s kind of the first stop over the border from Chicago, (a) good conservative state like Indiana,” Fort Wayne Rep. Bob Morris told WOWO last week. “If we have an issue there, we’re going to have to get another, you know, essentially a census done in the state of Indiana by an independent source to see where the numbers are at,” he continued. Mrvan’s 1st Congressional District includes Lake and Porter counties, as well as some of LaPorte County. The trio collectively grew by an estimated 5,824 people — less than 1% — between April 2020 and July 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Indiana, as a whole, added an estimated 137,688 people — almost 2%. “There’s nothing to lead … me to believe, at least, that things would have changed so dramatically that the congressional districts are not adequately representing their constituents, and at the end of the day, that’s why redistricting matters,” Wilson said. Need to get in touch?Have a news tip? She called Indiana’s current congressional maps “sufficient” — not very competitive, but relatively compact and homogenous. Wilson said any changes should be recorded and addressed via data from the next census. “Every 10 years we do this — whether it’s going to be good for you or bad for you, whether you want to or you don’t,” she added. “… Changing that mechanism means in the future, there’s no precedent. You can say, ‘Well … we want to redraw this right this moment.” Some fear an effort to flip seats could backfire. “You can spread out your Republican vote a little too thin so that every few cycles, seats are going back and forth,” U.S. Sen. Todd Young of Indiana told Punchbowl News last month. “And that can sort of cut both ways.” Others predict squigglier lines. Bosma said efforts to capture blue districts could undo progress the GOP made in other cycles to make the districts more compact and keep political subdivisions — counties, towns, cities, school districts, fire districts and more — intact when possible. Map-drawers could “divvy up” northwest Indiana and put Mrvan at risk, he said. They could “run fingers into the center of the city” of Indianapolis to take aim at Carson. “But … it would not look right, and you’d have to do some pretty serious tap dancing to make it even remotely reasonable,” he said of the 7th District. Marjorie Hershey, an emeritus political science professor at Indiana University, said it’s “tempting” to look at the early redistricting fight as a “strategic matter of who’s winning and who’s losing.” She encouraged a broader view. “Democracy is not self-enforcing. It never has been,” Hershey said. “Democracies do fail, they do die, and we have to take seriously the possibility that that could happen here. Each step has a tendency to make the next step not look quite so bad or quite so distant.” Senior Reporter Casey Smith contributed. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX View the full article

The results of the Missouri Assessment Program come in four categories: advanced, proficient, basic and below basic. Grade-level equivalence, which is required to be reported in next year’s results, contains scores in the basic and proficient ranges (Getty Images). Students are showing “positive momentum” on state standardized tests, state education officials said Tuesday, though the results remain below pre-pandemic levels. Commissioner of Education Karla Eslinger told the State Board of Education Tuesday that she was glad to see an end to the “nosedive” that scores took between 2018 and 2023. But she knows the state can do better. “Now we are seeing an uptick. It takes a lot to see even a percent of an uptick,” she told the board. “Are we where we need to be? Absolutely not.” Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge, a board member from Pasadena Hills, said she hoped to see more improvement. “This just feels like we need to revisit our growth targets, understand what worked and figure out where we need to turn up the dial to our growth,” she said. The results of the Missouri Assessment Program come in four categories: advanced, proficient, basic and below basic. Grade-level equivalence, which is required to be reported in next year’s results, contains scores in the basic and proficient ranges. In English language arts, 44% of students scored proficient or advanced, compared to 49% in 2019. Math performance improved, with the lowest number of students scoring “below basic” in recent years. As a whole, 44% of students scored in the proficient or advanced range in math, beating 2019’s level of 41%. But the achievement gap remains wide. The state education department tracks the scores of students who are Black, English learners, free-and-reduced lunch recipients, Hispanic or those with an individualized education plan as a group. The group scores in the proficient or advanced range at less than half the rate of students outside those groups. Missouri school districts show improvement in annual performance report The board, with a tone of disappointment, spent part of Tuesday’s meeting examining ways to improve student achievement. The discussion often veered to low attendance rates. “We have school districts with 49% attendance and that, to me, is not acceptable. So we’ve got to do something about attendance,” Eslinger said. Her main areas of focus, she said, are literacy and attendance as mechanisms to boost performance. “We need to truly, truly work on attendance and literacy,” Eslinger said. “And then I do think that we need to look at how we measure progress.” The current way of measuring performance is too slow, she said, adding that she wants more granular data. Educators have long been expressing the same sentiment. Standardized test results are one of the factors that determine school districts’ state accreditation and are often cited by lawmakers and researchers to advocate for policy change. But educators compare the test to an “autopsy,” showing what has happened in the past but not providing real-time performance data. School leaders have advocated for a shift to benchmark assessments, instead of the MAP’s summative format. And schools in the Success Ready Students Network, which is exempt from the state’s accreditation process, have been testing new ways to monitor student performance. At the end of July, the department announced that the whole state will move toward benchmark tests as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority Program. The program will allow the state to pilot a new assessment system beginning in the 2025-26 school year. The department is planning on a “small-scale pilot of approximately five (schools) serving an estimated 100 students each in grade four English language arts and grade five Mathematics,” according to its application submitted earlier this summer. The new test, which the department is calling the Success Ready Student Assessment, will have a minimum of three checkpoints throughout the school year and is intended to provide more timely feedback to educators and students. “It just gives us a lot more information,” Eslinger said. “It is so much better for our kids to be able to have that opportunity to really see what it is that they’ve learned and what they need to learn next.” View the full article

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Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim, famed for his critiques of political repression, neoliberalism and Western hegemony, has died at the age of 88, the culture ministry announced on Wednesday. Ibrahim "passed away today, leaving behind an immortal literary and humanitarian legacy," Culture Minister Ahmed Fouad Hanno said in a tribute, calling the writer a "pillar of modern Arabic literature". Born in Cairo in 1937, Ibrahim was famed around the Arab world as a chronicler of social injustice, known for his sparse, documentary-style prose and his fierce independence. His writings -- which blurred the line between the personal and the political -- captured the struggles of the Arab world in the postcolonial era, particularly those of his native Egypt. Arguably his most famous novel, "Zaat" (1992), tells the story of Egypt's modern history -- from the overthrow of the monarchy in 1952 to the neoliberalism of the 1990s under president Hosni Mubarak -- through the eyes of an ordinary, middle-class woman. It was adapted into a prime-time television series in 2013, bringing Ibrahim's scathing portrayal of power to a new generation of Egyptians in the aftermath of the Arab Spring uprising that ousted Mubarak. A dissident through and through, Ibrahim was first jailed for his leftist politics in 1959, under then president Gamal Abdel Nasser. His five years in prison would form the basis for his debut 1966 novel, "That Smell", which was initially banned. Ibrahim's renown later saw many of his works translated into English and French. In 2003, he refused to accept a prestigious literary prize from the Mubarak government charging that it "oppresses our people, protects corruption and allows the Israeli ambassador to remain while Israel kills and rapes". The last was a reference to alleged Israeli abuses in the occupied territories during the second Palestinian intifada or uprising. Among Ibrahim's most celebrated works are "The Committee" (1981), a Kafkaesque allegory of bureaucracy and surveillance, and "Stealth" (2007), a semi-autobiographical account of his childhood during World War II. Generations of Arab writers found inspiration in his minimalist style, heavy with irony and rooted in everyday life. maf/bha/kir View the full article

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Heavy rain pounded South Korea’s greater capital region on Wednesday, turning roads into chocolate-colored rivers and disrupting traffic, as authorities issued flood and landslide warnings near water sources and hills. One person was reported as missing in the city of Gimpo, near the capital city of Seoul, while more than 60 roads were flooded and at least five houses were damaged, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. About 50 people were forced to evacuate from their homes. More than 200 millimeters (7.8 inches) of rain fell in parts of Seoul and the nearby cities of Gimpo, Goyang, and Incheon, where residents salvaged belongings and used plastic containers to bail water from properties damaged by flash floods. South Korea’s weather agency said the greater Seoul area will continue to be affected by heavy rain overnight and through Thursday morning. Authorities shut down dozens of riverside parks and more than 100 hiking trails while issuing text messages warning people to beware of floods, landslides and damaged structures. View the full article

Greece on Wednesday battled to contain more than 20 wildfires including one menacing its third-largest city Patras as a heatwave stoked blazes and forced the evacuation of thousands in southern Europe. Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, the Balkans and Britain have this week wilted in high temperatures that fuel wildfires and which scientists say human-induced climate change is intensifying. Since dawn on Wednesday, 4,850 firefighters and 33 planes were mobilised across Greece on what promised to be "a very difficult day", fire service spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said. A fire near the ancient Mycenaean archaeological site of Voudeni, just seven kilometres (four miles) from Patras, threatened forested zones and homes, and the area was covered by a thick cloud of smoke, an AFP journalist reported. Fierce wind "is hampering the task of water bombers, and is making collecting water at sea more difficult", the president of the firefighter officers' union, Kostas Tsigkas, told public broadcaster ERT. In the western Achaia region in the Peloponnese, to which the coastal city of Patras belongs, around 20 villages were evacuated on Tuesday. Other fronts were burning on the popular tourist island of Zante and the Aegean island of Chios, scarred by a huge wildfire in June that ravaged more than 4,000 hectares. The Greek coastguard said it had helped evacuate nearly 80 people from Chios and near Patras. The national ambulance service reported 52 hospitalisations from Achaia, Chios and the western town of Preveza, including "a small number of firefighters", mostly for respiratory problems and minor burns. Temperatures are due to come close to 40C in parts of western Greece on Wednesday, including the northwest Peloponnese, national weather service EMY forecast. After Greece requested four water bombers from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to bolster its resources, leftist opposition party Syriza criticised the conservative government's preparation for the fires that hit every year. Greece needed "a bold redistribution of resources in favour of civil protection", an "emphasis on prevention", better coordination and new technologies in its civil protection system, Syriza said. - 'Worst breeding ground' - At the other end of the Mediterranean, wildfires continued to dominate the news in Spain, where cooler temperatures and greater humidity were expected to help control blazes in which two people have died. Authorities in the northwestern region of Castile and Leon, where flames have threatened a world heritage Roman mining site, said almost 6,000 people from 26 localities had been evacuated from their homes. Bushy undergrowth and searing temperatures that have baked Spain for almost two weeks had created "the worst possible breeding ground for this situation", Castile and Leon's civil protection head Irene Cortes said. A total of 199 wildfires have scorched nearly 98,784 hectares across Spain this year, more than double the area burned during the same period in 2024. Neighbouring Portugal deployed more than 1,800 firefighters and around 20 aircraft against five major blazes, with efforts focused on a blaze in the central municipality of Trancoso that has raged since Saturday. Strong gusts of wind had rekindled flames overnight and threatened nearby villages, where television images showed locals volunteering to help the firefighters under a thick cloud of smoke. "It's scary... but we are always ready to help each other," a mask-wearing farmer told Sic Noticias television, holding a spade in his hand. Italian firefighters had extinguished a blaze that burned for five days on the famed Mount Vesuvius and spewed plumes of smoke over the Naples area. In Britain, temperatures were expected to peak at 34C in the country's fourth heatwave of the summer. The UK Health Security Agency warned of "significant impacts" on health and social care services for the parts of central and southeastern England where the harshest heat was forecast. burs-imm/jph/giv View the full article

A Hong Kong court on Wednesday found J-pop artist Kenshin Kamimura guilty of indecent assault after he harassed a woman working as his interpreter at a restaurant earlier this year. Kamimura, 26, is a former member of the boy band ONE N'ONLY, which expelled him shortly after the allegation. Fans queued to get into court for hours before the hearing, and some broke down in tears upon learning Kamimura had been convicted. The court heard Kamimura touched the woman's thighs multiple times despite her objections, and invited her to go to the bathroom with him. Magistrate Peter Yu found he had assaulted her, adding his behaviour "clearly shows disrespect for women". The incident took place in March during a celebratory dinner, after a fan meet for which the woman had been working as an interpreter for Kamimura and others. The Japanese star was fined HK$15,000 ($1,900). Kamimura, who is also known as an actor in the Japanese drama "Our Youth", hugged his court translator upon hearing he would be fined without facing jail time, media reports said. Kamimura got "what he deserved", Yu said, adding that "had the victim not refused to remain silent and courageously come forward, she would have suffered an unpleasant experience in silence". But ardent fans inside and outside the court were in tears. Chan, a 30-year-old screenwriter and fan who gave only her last name, said she had come from northern China to watch the court session. She told AFP before the verdict that the trial has had a negative impact on Kamimura's image, and had incited "public outbursts of vitriol against the artist". twa/reb/rsc View the full article

首相官邸＝東京都千代田区で2023年1月11日午前10時44分、竹内幹撮影 　日本政府は20～22日に横浜市で開く「第9回アフリカ開発会議」（TICAD9）で、新経済圏構想「インド洋・アフリカ経済圏イニシアチブ」を提唱する方針を固めた。アフリカへの影響力を強める中国を念頭に、日本の友好国であるインドや中東諸国と連携してアフリカの発展に貢献する意思を打ち出す。石破茂首相が会議で表明する。 　政府関係者が13日明らかにした。インド以西からアフリカを「インド洋・アフリカ経済圏」と定義し、自由で公正な経済圏の構築を目指す。具体的には政府開発援助（ODA）で日本企業がインド、中東の拠点からアフリカに輸出する環境などを整える。併せて官民フォーラムの開催などを通じて日本、インド、中東、アフリカの企業・団体間の取引・連携を後押しする。 Advertisement 　日本政府関係者は「スズキやダイキンなどインドの製造拠点からアフリカに輸出する動きがある。日本の経済成長につながる動きを広げたい」と指摘した。 　日本はこれまで「自由で開かれたインド太平洋」構想に基づき東南アジアやインドとの連携強化を進めてきた。新経済圏構想を機に、より遠方のグローバルサウス（新興・途上国）との関係強化を進める。 　アフリカに豊富に眠る重要鉱物の採掘や利活用も後押しする。会議では、アフリカ2位の銅産地である内陸国ザンビアの首都とモザンビークのナカラ港をつなぐ「ナカラ回廊」を広域ODAで整備する方針を打ち出す予定だ。【田所柳子】 View the full article