Desmond Milligan

舞台王者郭富城（Aaron）與方媛（Moka）2017年結婚至今，先後育有一對寶貝女兒，今年再度有喜即將榮升為五口之家。雖然方媛身懷六甲，但仍親力親為照顧兩名女兒，更帶她們四圍暢遊，並分享溫馨一幕。 郭富城方媛將迎接第三胎組成五口之家。（方媛微博）郭富城方媛將迎接第三胎組成五口之家。（方媛微博）郭富城方媛將迎接第三胎組成五口之家。（方媛微博）方媛挺著孕肚陪兩個女兒暢遊度假區，狀態依舊相當好，雖然巨肚已經相當明顯，不過得天獨厚四肢纖幼，仍然是精緻瓜子臉。她在貼文寫下：「就是去哪都帶著你們，抓住假期的小尾巴。」並分享多張母女三人親密互動畫面，其中一張更是囡囡齊齊親吻孕肚，溫馨又有愛，洋溢著幸福氛圍吸引大批網友點讚。 方媛趁暑假挺孕肚帶２名女兒外遊。（方媛微博）方媛趁暑假挺孕肚帶２名女兒外遊。（方媛微博）方媛趁暑假挺孕肚帶２名女兒外遊。（方媛微博）方媛趁暑假挺孕肚帶２名女兒外遊。（方媛微博）方媛趁暑假挺孕肚帶２名女兒外遊。（方媛微博） View the full article

Lors d'une réunion avec les chefs d'État européens à Washington, Donald Trump a chuchoté à l'oreille du président français Macron, mais son micro était encore allumé. Des millions de personnes ont entendu Trump affirmer que Poutine voulait conclure un accord « pour lui faire plaisir ». Le président américain a réaffirmé ses relations étroites avec Poutine et a évoqué une possible solution de paix dans la guerre en Ukraine. View the full article

Il y a quelques jours, Jérémy Frérot partageait ses photos de vacances sur son compte Instagram. Le chanteur a quitté son sud-ouest adoré et a mis le cap sur la Martinique. Coïncidence, ou pas, ce mercredi 20 août 2025, Shy'm a partagé son album de vacances et la chanteuse les a, elle aussi, passées dans les Antilles françaises... La rentrée approche doucement... L'heure est au bilan de cet été 2025, fait de voyages loin de l'Hexagone pour certains. Très attaché au bassin d'Arcachon où il a grandi et où il est revenu vivre après avoir vécu à Marseille avec son ex-femme Laure Manaudou, Jérémy Frérot a délaissé son Sud-Ouest adoré le temps de ses grandes vacances Après avoir sillonné la France pour des concerts, le chanteur avait largement mérité de souffler. Il y a quelques jours, le "gamin des sables" (titre de son dernier album et de l'une de ses chanson) a fait savoir qu'il avait choisi la magnifique île de la Martinique pour ses vacances. Le papa de Lou et Sacha (les deux garçons qu'il a eus avec Laure Manaudou) avait partagé une série de photos et de vidéos. Ses 284 000 abonnés avaient alors pu admirer sa baignade dans une rivière, dans la mer avec pratique du surf, son sport préféré, dégustation d'un cocktail face à la mer et repas typiques de cette île des Antilles. Voir cette publication sur Instagram Une publication partagée par Jérémy Frerot (@jeremyfrerot) Comme Jérémy Frérot, Shy'm a passé ses vacances en Martinique PUBLICITÉ Quelques jours plus tard, coïncidence ou pas, c'est Shy'm qui vient de dévoiler ce mercredi 20 août 2025 qu'elle est elle aussi partie en vacances à la Martinique. Un île qui compte beaucoup pour elle puisqu'elle fait partie de ses racines, de son histoire familiale. Tamara Marthe, le vrai nom de Shy'm, est d'origine martiniquaise par son papa. Et tout comme Jérémy Frérot, les très belles photos de ses vacances montrent une baignade dans une rivière, une marche au bord de la route, une baignade dans la mer ou encore la dégustation d'un cocktail à la plage. "972", a choisi la chanteuse pour légender sa galerie photos, numéro du département de la Martinique. Ces trois chiffres sont également accompagnés d'un cœur rose traversé par une flèche. Et parmi les personnes présentes sur les photos de Shy'm, plusieurs membres de sa famille mais aucune photo avec Jérémy Frérot. Voir cette publication sur Instagram Une publication partagée par SHY’M (@instashym) Sh'ym refuse de parler de sa vie amoureuse PUBLICITÉ Alors qu'un nouveau prochain d'envergure attend Shy'm dans ces prochains mois avec sa participation à la comédie musicale Chicago, la chanteuse avait été interrogée le mois dernier sur sa vie amoureuse. Les deux artistes sont proches depuis de longs mois... "Ce n'est pas encore un sujet sur lequel j'ai envie de m'exprimer. Je mets un point d'honneur à ne rien divulguer de façon officielle pour pouvoir vivre ma vie comme je l'entends. Il y a eu tellement de moments volés... Autant que possible, je fais tout pour me protéger des rumeurs", avait-elle répondu à Télé-Loisirs, qui questionnait la chanteuse et actrice qui a intégré le jury de Drag Race France All Stars sur France 2 et qui fera une apparition remarquée dans la saison 2 de Cat's Eyes sur TF1. Une chose est sure, la rentrée de Shy'm s'annonce bien remplie ! Article original sur Purepeople View the full article

Since President Donald Trump announced his takeover of the D.C. police force last week, restaurant reservations have dropped in the city by as much as 31 percent year over year for a single day, according to restaurant booking data. Business owners are concerned that the continued surge in law enforcement could impact their revenue during a vital period of the summer. Several operators say the decline does not bode well for them or the 380 establishments participating in Summer Restaurant Week, which started Monday in the greater D.C. area. The bargain-dining promotion is considered a lifeline for restaurants hoping to survive the doldrums of August, when Congress is on recess, locals are on vacation, and many area residents are gearing up for back-to-school season. One of the goals with the promotion, says Shawn Townsend, president and chief executive of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, is to help the industry make it to Labor Day, when D.C. springs back to life. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. This August has been particularly tough on D.C. restaurants, numerous operators told The Washington Post. They were already dealing with a number of destabilizing issues - rising labor and ingredient costs, soaring rents, federal worker layoffs, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement audits - when the president announced last week that he was sending in troops and federal agents to deal with a city where crime is “totally out of control,” despite local and federal statistics showing otherwise. “It’s like drowning and then someone throws a 100 lb weight to you,” texted one D.C. restaurateur who asked that his name not be used because, he said, he was “just focused on keeping my businesses alive (this week).” It’s difficult to get an exact read on the state of D.C. dining since the federalization of local police. On the day of Trump’s announcement, the number of online reservations in Washington dining rooms dropped by 16 percent from the same date the previous year, according to OpenTable. Since then, reservations have dipped almost every day, falling as much as 31 percent in a single day compared to the same period in 2024. But on Monday, the first day of Restaurant Week, OpenTable reservations were up 29 percent compared to the same day the previous year. Some of the decline in reservations could be attributed to timing: The first week of the takeover, Aug. 11 to 17, ended one day before Restaurant Week began. Those same dates in 2024 fell during Restaurant Week, when presumably reservations were increasing as diners scrambled to secure the discounted three-course meals. Townsend with RAMW, which organizes the biannual promotion, says that none of the 380 restaurants involved in this year’s event - a record number - have reported a drop in reservations for the seven-day run. But at least two participating restaurant proprietors told The Washington Post that their numbers are well below last year’s bookings. “Reservations are low, low, low” compared to last year, said Mauricio Fraga-Rosenfeld, co-owner of El Secreto de Rosita on U Street near 16th Street NW, across the street from a police station where he said federal troops have often assembled before fanning out across the city. “The city is dead,” Fraga-Rosenseld said. “If you walk on the street, there’s no feeling. People are scared … You don’t see any Latinos on the street.” Nick Pimentel, co-founder of Elle in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood, said he’s seen a significant drop in walk-in traffic and reservations since January. But the bottom fell out this month. “Compared to last year’s Summer Restaurant Week reservations - and even Winter Restaurant Week in January - it’s looking like we dropped more than 50 percent,” Pimentel said. The numbers suggest, he added, that this will be the slowest August in Elle’s seven-year history, including during the pandemic-affected summer of 2020. “Seeing law enforcement - armored and plainclothed - in the neighborhood, casing our building and looking into our windows definitely put guests and staff on edge,” Pimentel said. Mount Pleasant and the nearby Columbia Heights and 14th Street areas have seen several arrests of food delivery workers, including a Saturday morning incident in which six mostly masked agents wearing police vests tackled a food delivery driver outside of a coffee shop. The president and White House are disputing the numbers. During a Tuesday call in to the “Fox & Friends” morning television show, Trump said his orders have transformed Washington into “just an incredible place in literally four days.” “Did you see what’s happening with the restaurants? They’re bursting,” Trump said. “They were all closing and going bankrupt.” On Monday, Trump disputed local and federal statistics that show crime is declining in the city, claiming in a social media post that “D.C. gave Fake Crime numbers in order to create a false illusion of safety.” A White House spokeswoman sent a statement to The Post, along with a Fox News story indicating that 52 restaurants closed in Washington in 2023, in part due to crime. “Dozens of DC small businesses, restaurants, and local shops have closed their doors due to the violent crime that has plagued the city. President Trump’s bold leadership will restore our nation’s capital by creating opportunities for businesses to flourish without fear of criminals looting and destroying their property. President Trump is delivering on his promise to make DC safer, which will inherently make D.C, more prosperous,” spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said in a statement. Busboys and Poets, a chain of community-oriented cafes, has seen a small collective drop in August sales among the five locations in Washington while its three suburban outposts are enjoying an uptick, said founder Andy Shallal. “The streets seem to be a little bit thinner in certain parts of town,” said Shallal. “There’s a little bit of a malaise in the city. I think people are just frustrated and just not in a good mood.” Shallal and others say federal checkpoints are scaring some people from visiting Washington, regardless of their legal status. The unexpected traffic stops may also be preventing workers - particularly back-of-the-house cooks and dishwashers who often hail from Latin American countries - from showing up to shifts. “I think people would much rather stay where they are and not have to deal with this,” said Shallal. “A lot of our customers are immigrants that have either newly immigrated to America or have been naturalized Americans. ... In general, they’d rather not expose people or expose themselves to those kinds of conditions or situations that may put them in harm’s way.” Council member Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) has spoken to nearly a dozen restaurant owners in his district, which includes Capitol Hill and the NoMa neighborhood, and said they’re telling him the same thing: In the last week, they’re seeing less foot traffic. Reservations are being canceled. Employees, especially back-of-house staff, are not showing up for work, leaving restaurants shorthanded for evening shifts. Some restaurant owners are hesitant to complain publicly for fear of being targeted by federal agents. “I haven’t heard a single restaurant say ‘this is great for business,’” Allen said. “Our businesses are suffering by what they're doing here,” the council member added. “It’s an unwarranted, absolutely ridiculous, unnecessary step that federal government’s doing. It sure is more than just immigration issues. This is impacting bread-and-butter local businesses.” Med Lahlou, founder of an eponymous hospitality group operating neighborhood restaurants throughout the city including Lupo Verde on 14th Street NW, said the police presence and public arrests have been demoralizing. “It has been heartbreaking to watch my hometown of 40 years feel like it’s coming apart,” the restaurateur said. He said the takeover is “devastating businesses to an unimaginable degree” - including the service industry. “People are scared to go out, regardless of whether they are U.S. citizens or not. That fear alone is enough to damage restaurant week and the livelihood of countless workers,” Lahlou said. Oji Abbott had been expecting an uptick in sales at Oohh’s and Aahh’s, his soul food restaurant on U Street, as Howard University students returned to campus last week, preparing for the start of a new semester. But the uptick never arrived. Instead, Abbott says, he has experienced a decline - a small but noticeable one. He pinned some of the blame on the presence of federal law enforcement officers. “We got losses because some people are not coming out and dealing with that,” Abbott told The Post. “They say, ‘You know, I heard they were at 14th Street, they were in U Street. I’m not going.’” Abbott is fortunate compared to other businesses on the U Street corridor, he says. Oohh’s and Aahh’s has two other locations. If diners don’t feel safe - or just don’t want to deal with the hassle of navigating the neighborhood with all the extra vehicles on the streets - they can go to one of Abbott’s outlets on Georgia Avenue NW or in Alexandria, Virginia. But the chef and owner also worries about the impact of 30 straight days of federal agents and officers on the streets. “We have to operate within this 30 days, and do you have enough wherewithal to be able to have a week or month of short money coming?” Abbott says. “Most small businesses, I’ll say no. Small businesses, you don’t have money to say, “Oh, yeah, I’ll just take the short money for 30 days and I’ll still be able to pay the rent and my electric bill and my water bill and my gas bill.” Townsend with RAMW is more bullish on the restaurants that his group represents. They will make Restaurant Week work, regardless of how many staff no-show for a shift. Owners will roll up their sleeves and pitch in. But Townsend is also concerned about the federal takeover of Washington’s streets as restaurant week revs up. “There’s a sense from the restaurant community in D.C. that folks who live in Maryland and Virginia will opt to dine in Bethesda or Tysons or Falls Church,” Townsend said, “as opposed to trying out a new restaurant in D.C. this week.” - - - Emily Heil contributed to this report. Related Content In Donbas, Ukrainians hold out as Russia besieges, bargains for their land As more National Guard units arrive in D.C., local officials question the need Ukraine scrambles to roll back Russian eastern advance as summit takes place View the full article

HATTERAS, N.C. – Hurricane Erin continues to churn in the Atlantic waters hundreds of miles off the U.s., prompting officials to close beaches along the East Coast from the mid-Atlantic to the Northeast due to massive waves and potentially deadly rip currents just as families take their final vacations of the summer. How To Watch Fox Weather Hurricane Erin isn’t forecast to make landfall along the U.S. East Coast. However, dangerous impacts are expected nonetheless due to outer rain bands possibly lashing North Carolina’s Outer Banks, where Tropical Storm Warnings and Storm Surge Warnings remain in effect. This graphic shows tropical alerts in effect due to Hurricane Erin.The Tropical Storm Warning is now in effect from Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina, to the North Carolina-Virginia border. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect north of the North Carolina-Virginia border to Chincoteague, Virginia. Officials in Dare and Hyde counties declared local states of emergency and issued mandatory evacuation orders for tourists and residents in popular areas like Ocracoke Island and Hatteras Island. On Tuesday afternoon, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein declared a state of emergency to assist with the response to Hurricane Erin and to mobilize resources. Download The Free Fox Weather App "To folks on the coast, now is the time to prepare," he said in a post on X. "Check your emergency kits, make sure you have emergency alerts turned on, and listen to emergency guidance in case you need to evacuate." North Carolina Emergency Management officials opened a State Operated Shelter (SOS) in conjunction with Warren County Emergency Management for those who needed to evacuate due to Hurricane Erin. Due to the threats of a storm surge and large waves of up to 12 feet in some spots, local officials and forecasters have been warning people to stay out of the water for safety. A spokesperson for Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, told FOX Weather their rescue crews conducted nearly 60 water rescues on Monday and another 20 on Tuesday due to strong rip currents. The town has now told all beachgoers to stay out of the water through Friday as Erin gets even closer. "These swells are producing powerful rip currents that can create extremely hazardous swimming conditions," said Sam Proffitt, director of Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue. "The safety of our beachgoers is always our top priority, and we urge everyone to follow this advisory." As of the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Erin has maximum sustained winds of 100 mph with some higher gusts, and some slow strengthening is expected through Thursday night. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from Erin’s center, and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 230 miles. Hurricane Erin is currently located less than 500 miles to the south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and is moving off to the north-northwest at 13 mph. The NHC said Erin is expected to begin a turn to the north on Wednesday, followed by a northeastward motion on Thursday. On that forecast track, the center of Hurricane Erin will move over the western Atlantic between the East Coast and Bermuda through early Friday, and then pass south of Atlantic Canada on Friday and Saturday. Original article source: Hurricane Erin closes beaches from Florida to New York, unleashes monster waves, rip currents, extreme erosion View the full article

The big story: Florida’s return to school came with its share of student transportation woes. In Palm Beach County, a persistent bus driver shortage has led to overcrowded buses, with some students left waiting without space to get to school, the Palm Beach Post reports. District officials there have tried to explain the situation to parents, noting that the first week of classes also is the first week of real-time bus runs, with adjustments coming as everyone sees what the routes really look like. That hasn’t stopped parents from making angry calls and social media posts. Parents in one Lee County community are calling for changes to their children’s bus stop, saying it’s current location is unsafe, WINK reports. Anger is spilling over in some school car drop off and pickup lines. Pasco County superintendent John Legg told his board on Tuesday that the overwhelming majority of parents have been polite and understanding as schools work out the kinks of getting children in and out of their cars safely. But there have been some who have ignored the rules and staff requests, driving unsafely around students and treating employees rudely. Legg said he’s given school leaders the authority to revoke any parent’s car line privilege if they keep up such behavior. “We do not want to put our students at risk, nor should our staff be subject to abuse,” Legg said, advising school board members they might get some complaint emails in the coming days. Students walking to school, meanwhile, have had to deal with drivers who aren’t following school zone rules. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office reported nearly 700 traffic stops in the zones during the first week of classes, issuing about 250 speeding citations, Spectrum 13 reports. In other transportation news, a Martin County school bus driver was named Florida’s School Bus Operator of the Year, TC Palm reports. Hot topicsSecond chances: Tampa Bay teens recovering from alcohol or drug addiction are getting a chance to complete high school at Victory High, which has three campuses in the region. School books: Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a lawsuit against two textbook publishers, contending they overcharged school districts. • DeSantis also said the state would appeal a federal court’s decision that found unconstitutional parts of Florida’s law restricting school library book content, Florida Politics reports. School board members: Alachua County Democrats defended school board chairperson Sarah Rockwell, who is under fire from the State Board of Education, WCJB reports. Immigration enforcement: Florida State College at Jacksonville is the latest state college to enter an agreement to help enforce federal immigration laws, Inside Higher Ed reports. Discipline: The Pinellas County school board reviewed some of its changes to handling student discipline amid concerns that referrals and suspensions have risen, with the majority imposed on Black students, Bay News 9 reports. Classroom vacancies: More than 200 graduates of Achieve Miami’s Teacher Accelerator Program have taken jobs teaching in Miami-Dade County schools, Miami Today reports. The program is now the second-largest teacher provider in the district. Cellphones: New restrictive cellphone use policies have sparked pushback among some Brevard County students, parents and teachers, Florida Today reports. From the court docket ... The Martin County school board agreed to join a national class action lawsuit against social media companies, claiming they use algorithms designed to addict children, TC Palm reports. Don’t miss a story. Here’s a link to yesterday’s roundup. Before you go ... Ever wanted to see African wildlife but haven’t had the opportunity to go there? Here’s a live feed from a watering hole in Namibia. View the full article

Former Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday said Democratic state Rep. Nicole Collier, who has spent the past two nights inside the Texas Capitol after she was barred from leaving the building over her refusal to agree to 24-hour police surveillance, is “among those who history will reveal to have been heroes of this moment.” In a video posted on social media by the Texas House Democrats, Harris can be heard praising Collier for taking a stand against the GOP, calling her actions “inspiring.” “I just want you to know that you are among those who history will reveal to have been heroes of this moment, so you just stay strong and do what you are doing,” Harris said. “You have the right instinct. You are talented and you are principled.” Collier said she was “overwhelmed” by Harris’ outreach. “The fact that she is watching what we’re doing right now in this moment means that we are making a difference,” Collier said after wrapping up her call with Harris. “What we do matters. People are watching and they are ready to hold this government accountable. Get fired up, get ready, and vote.” Related: 'Yikes': GOP Lawmaker Jeered Relentlessly As Voters Give Her An Earful Collier was among the 50 Democrats who fled Texas on Aug. 3 to block Republicans from passing a new congressional map sought by President Donald Trump to give the GOP five additional Republican-friendly seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Related: More Texas Democrats Spent The Night At The State Capitol In Protest The majority of the Democrats who left Texas returned to the state Monday and faced prompt retaliation from the GOP. Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, a Republican, said each Democratic legislator would be required to sign a “permission slip” agreeing to have an around-the-clock police escort to ensure they attended votes to pass the new map. Related: Kamala Harris Seemingly Jabs Donald Trump In Video Before Vote Certification Collier refused to follow the order and was, as a result, locked on the House floor with armed guards keeping her there. She was told she is also allowed in her office in the building. The legislator has filed a writ of habeas corpus, saying the situation she faces amounts to illegal confinement. Related: Gavin Newsom Is Talking Like Trump — And It's Infuriating The Right Collier was accompanied by House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu and Rep. Vince Perez on Monday evening with more Democrats — including Reps. Penny Morales Shaw and Mihaela Plesa, who tore up her “permission slip” before the cameras — joining her the next night. Morales Shaw told NBC News that she regretted initially following Republicans’ orders. “Nicole was right. We should not have submitted to this,” she said. “I cannot support this very low and bad precedent for all future legislators.” A vote on the redistricting plan is now expected to take place Wednesday with Trump being widely expected to get his wish. Texas Republicans’ ploy prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to announce a ballot initiative, asking California voters to approve early congressional redistricting if the Lone Star State goes forward with its own redistricting plan. Related...Texas State Rep Says Assigned Police Escort 'Made A Scene' And Threatened To Arrest Her Texas Democrat Sues After Republicans Lock Her In State Capitol Texas State Rep. Refuses To Leave Capitol Amid Democrat And Republican Showdown Read the original on HuffPost View the full article

Israel will call up 60,000 reservists in the coming weeks as it pushes forward with a plan to seize Gaza City, the military has said, even as mediators pursue efforts to secure a ceasefire in the 22-month war. The military said on Wednesday that Defence Minister Israel Katz approved plans to begin operations in some of Gaza’s most densely populated areas, and that it would call up 60,000 reservists and lengthen the service of an additional 20,000 reservists. The announcement comes as human rights groups warn that a humanitarian crisis could worsen in Gaza, where most residents have been displaced multiple times, neighbourhoods lie in ruins, and starvation deaths continue to rise amid the threat of widescale famine. An Israeli military official told journalists that the new phase of combat would involve “a gradual precise and targeted operation in and around Gaza City,” including some areas where forces had not previously operated. The official said the military had already begun operating in the neighbourhoods of Zeitoun and Jabalia as part of the initial stages. Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from central Gaza, said residents are bracing for the worst as Israel pursues its plan to seize Gaza’s largest city, in an operation that could displace hundreds of thousands of people to concentration zones in the south of the territory. Abu Azzoum said Israeli artillery has flattened rows of homes in eastern Gaza City as attacks intensified across densely populated areas. “Last night was completely sleepless as Israeli drones and warplanes filled the skies, attacking and destroying homes and makeshift camps,” Abu Azzoum said. He also described how a father in al-Mawasi, an Israeli-designated so-called safe zone in southern Gaza, lost his children in an overnight strike. “He told us his children were sleeping peacefully when the Israeli missile tore through the tent and ripped their bodies apart.” At least 35 Palestinians, including 10 people seeking aid, were killed in Israeli attacks on Wednesday, according to medical sources. Mediation effortsIsrael’s plan to escalate its assault coincides with renewed mediation efforts led by Qatar and Egypt, with backing from the United States. The latest framework calls for a 60-day truce, a staggered exchange of captives and Palestinian prisoners, and expanded aid access. While Qatar said the proposal was “almost identical” to a version Israel had previously accepted, Egypt stressed that “the ball is now in its (Israel’s) court.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly commented on the proposal. Last week, he insisted any deal must ensure “all the hostages are released at once and according to our conditions for ending the war”. Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi said his movement “opened the door wide to the possibility of reaching an agreement, but the question remains whether Netanyahu will once again close it, as he has done in the past”. The truce push comes amid mounting international criticism of Israel’s conduct in the war and growing domestic pressure on Netanyahu. The Palestinian Ministry of Health has said at least 62,064 Palestinians have been killed since Israel’s war on Gaza started on October 7, 2023, most of them civilians. The United Nations regards the ministry’s figures as credible. View the full article

By Dmitry Antonov MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia said on Wednesday that attempts to resolve security issues relating to Ukraine without the participation of Moscow was a "road to nowhere". Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made the comments two days after U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Ukraine's president and European leaders for discussions about security guarantees for Ukraine that could help to end the war. "We cannot agree with the fact that now it is proposed to resolve questions of security, collective security, without the Russian Federation. This will not work," Lavrov said. "I am sure that in the West and above all in the United States they understand perfectly well that seriously discussing security issues without the Russian Federation is a utopia, it's a road to nowhere." (Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; writing by Mark Trevelyan and Anastasia Teterevleva; editing by Mark Heinrich) View the full article

Europe has registered a record number of outbreaks of mosquito-borne illnesses such as chikungunya and West Nile virus this year, the EU health agency said Wednesday, saying climate change was contributing to a "new normal". Europe is experiencing longer and more intense transmission seasons for mosquito-borne diseases, said the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). "This shift is driven by climatic and environmental factors such as rising temperatures, longer summer seasons, milder winters and changes in rainfall patterns -- conditions that combine to create a favourable environment for mosquitoes to thrive and transmit viruses," it said in a statement. Europe was entering a new phase where "longer, more widespread and more intense transmission of mosquito-borne diseases is becoming the new normal", said ECDC director Pamela Rendi-Wagner. The mosquito that can spread chikungunya virus, Aedes albopictus, is now established in 16 European countries and 369 regions, up from just 114 regions a decade ago, the ECDC said. Europe has seen 27 chikungunya outbreaks so far in 2025, a new record for the continent. For the first time, a locally acquired case was reported in France's Alsace region, "an exceptional occurrence at this latitude, highlighting the continued northward expansion of the transmission risk", the agency said. As of August 13, eight European countries had reported 335 locally acquired human cases of West Nile virus infection and 19 deaths, with Italy being the country most affected by far, with 274 infections. "As the mosquito-borne disease landscape evolves, more people in Europe will be at risk in the future," said Celine Gossner, Head of Section for food-, water-, and vector-borne and zoonotic diseases at ECDC. Prevention was more important than ever, both through coordinated public health action and personal protection measures, she said. The ECDC called for individuals in affected areas to protect themselves against mosquito bites using mosquito repellent, wearing long sleeves and trousers, and using window screens and bed nets. po/jll/jj View the full article

有「最美小龍女」之稱的李若彤，近年已將重心轉移內地發展，更不時透過社交平台分享日常生活趣事。近日，她大方自爆感情狀態，坦率曾經談過一段姐弟戀，但言語中似乎有不快的經歷，透露現階段仍處於單身狀態。 李若彤有「最美小龍女」之稱。（微博圖片）現年59歲的李若彤其實緋聞不多，為人熟悉的一段情是與富商郭應泉的十年情，她曾公開表示為了這段情令她愛到失去自我，甚至甘願為對方付出一切，但換來最終都是分手收場。但不講不知，在此之前她曾談過一段姐弟戀，她在影片中表示：「我不反對別人，但我自己啊，曾經試過姐弟戀，二十幾歲的時候，我領教過了，明白了。」言語中似乎有一些不愉快的經歷。續被問到現時對戀愛還有憧憬嗎？她就表明：「現在為止我也沒打算想有（男朋友）。」 李若彤依然保養得宜的。（李若彤微博圖片）另外，她亦大方坦承曾有渴望生小孩子的想法：「曾經的我也渴望過的，但是我覺得現在的我是人生挺愉快的一段時間，我也很珍惜的。」強調自己沒有生孩子，但是身邊有一位比女兒更像女兒的外甥女，她非常疼愛對方，表示現時自己處於單身狀態。 拍片大方自爆感情狀態。（影片截圖）李若彤喜愛健身。（李若彤微博圖片） View the full article

韓國首爾梨泰院2022年10月29日發生人踩人慘劇，造成159人死亡。韓聯社報道，一名曾到現場進行救援的消防員A某事後患上抑鬱症。他於今年8月10日失蹤，警方20日在京畿道的一座橋下發現它的屍體。警方稱沒有發現任何謀殺跡象。 警方周三表示，當天中午12時30分左右，在京畿道始興市錦李洞首爾首都圈一環路附近的一座橋墩下，發現A某的屍體。屍體躺在地上，已經嚴重腐爛。 10月30日凌晨，在韓國首爾市龍山區梨泰院洞一帶，救護人員在現場工作。（新華社）A某生前最後一次現身，是在10日凌晨2時30分左右，他離開南仁川收費站後，將車停在路邊，未攜帶手機並離開車輛。停車處距離屍體發現處約8至9公里。A某失蹤前據報給家人和朋友留言致歉。 警方沒有發現任何謀殺跡象，懷疑A某是在走向橋墩後死亡。 報道指出，梨泰院近3年前發生人踩人事件，該消防員前往現場參與救援，事後被診斷出患有抑郁症並接受了治療。他當年曾對媒體表示，自己的父母知道他曾前往現場就很難受了：「罹難者的父母又該是什麼心情呢？要是這不是真的就好了。」 求助網站和熱線：香港撒瑪利亞防止自殺會熱線：23892222 醫院管理局精神健康專線：24667350 東華三院芷若園熱線︰18281 撒瑪利亞會熱線︰28960000 社會福利署熱線︰23432255 生命熱線：23820000 利民會《即時通》：35122626 明愛向晴熱線：18288 韓國梨泰院人踩人慘案2週年前夕　首爾聖水洞Prada活動逼爆急取消韓國梨泰院人踩人慘案　龍山警察署前署長應對不力囚3年梨泰院人踩人危機？人多到呼吸困難樂迷報警　首爾音樂派對急停辦韓國旅遊注意：首爾梨泰院有人派「加料朱古力」吃下恐遭迷暈擄走 View the full article

位於將軍澳的靈實護養院懷疑出現集體食物中毒，18名院友過去數日進食軟餐後，出現腹瀉症狀，需送院治療。《香港01》正就事件查詢靈實護養院及衞生署。 靈實護養院疑爆發集體食物中毒，18名院友過去數日進食軟餐後，出現腹瀉症狀。（靈實護養院網站）旺角兆萬極上帝王水產疑食物中毒　8食客腹瀉嘔吐　曾食刺身生蠔食物安全｜營養師提醒4類生食風險　預防食物中毒4招小心魚生沙律爭鮮被揭壽司飯放街逾16小時！飯+醋不變壞？現3情況隨時食物中毒 View the full article

It won't be much longer until Ohio's fall colors return in full force. Explore Fall's foliage map for 2025 predicts Ohio's trees will begin to see some fall colors by the latter-half of September, beginning in the east and making their way throughout the rest of the state. "Foliage starts to change in the northern tier states out West and in the Midwest by late September," according to The Old Farmer's Almanac. "By Oct. 4, the leaves in some areas will be past their prime." Most of the Stark County area is predicted to see low color foliage conditions by around Sept. 27, with peak conditions setting in about a month later. When will the leaves start to change in Northeast Ohio?The state is forecast to begin to see low amounts of fall color the week of Sept. 21, according to the Explore Fall map. By Sept. 28, much of the eastern half of the state should be observing low amounts of fall color. A majority of the state should experience low fall colors by Oct. 7, with moderate color becoming present in the following days. High and peak conditions should begin in the following weeks. When will fall colors begin in Ohio?Fall foliage is predicted to begin to peak in the state beginning around the third week of October. Some parts of the Northeast Ohio area are expected to be past their peak by around Oct. 29. When does fall begin?This year, the fall season will start Sept. 22. The fall equinox will signify the transition from summer to autumn and will take place at 2:19 p.m. on that day, according to the Farmers' Almanac. How leaves change color in the fallAs the amount of daylight gets shorter in the fall, chlorophyll production in leaves slows down and eventually stops. Chlorophyll gives leaves a green color, so when these pigments are not visible, carotenoids, which produce yellow orange and brown colors, show through, according to the Virginia Department of Forestry. Bright light and excess plant sugars are abundant during the season, and they help produce anthocyanins, which add red to plants. Which of Ohio's trees show vibrant fall colors?Ohio's foliage ranges from eye-popping orange, red and yellow hues to golden bronzes and browns. "The timing of color change and colors exhibited by individual tree species is somewhat genetically controlled," according to the Ohio State University Extension. "Some species, such as sourwood in southern Ohio, will turn bright red late in the summer, while the leaves of many oak species won’t turn color until after many other species have already lost their leaves." Here's a look at fall leaf colors for common tree types in Ohio: Sugar maple: Orange or yellow Red maple: Red Silver maple: Yellow Black maple: Yellow Boxelder: Yellow Northern red oak: Red to brown White oak: Red and purple Hickories: Golden bronze Aspens and cottonwood: Purplish red Beech: Golden bronze Dogwood: Purplish red Yellow poplar/tulip tree: Yellow Honey locust: Yellow Black cherry: Yellow Sweetgum: Yellow, orange or red Black gum: Red Green ash: Yellow White ash: Red and purple Includes reporting by USA TODAY. This article originally appeared on The Repository: When will leaves change colors in Ohio? Here's what to know View the full article

Hurricane Erin is located east of Florida Wednesday morning, Aug. 20, as it continues to move north-northwest, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Erin weakened more overnight, with maximum sustained winds down to 100 mph. It remains a Category 2 hurricane, down from its peak as a Category 5 storm with 160-mph winds Aug. 16. Dangerous rip currents are expected along U.S. east coast beaches from Florida to Canada. ➤ Track all active storms ➤ Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location Conditions are expected to deteriorate along the eastern seaboard as Erin brings life-threatening surf and rip currents from Florida to Canada. Officials are encouraging residents to monitor the storm closely and make sure they're prepared. ➤ Don't have a hurricane supply kit? From the basics to the extras, here's what you need Where is Hurricane Erin going? See projected 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. Hurricane Erin spaghetti modelsSpecial 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 Hurricane Erin ➤ How often has Florida been impacted, threatened by August hurricanes? We took a look back Hurricane Erin storm tracker, pathSatellite view of Hurricane ErinExpected peak storm surge expected from Hurricane ErinTrack all active Atlantic storms and disturbancesWhat should you do now to prepare for hurricane season?Be prepared before there's a storm coming.Officials regularly encourage Florida residents to prepare for storms before a hurricane is approaching while shelves are full stocked and you aren't battling crowds all rushing to the store at the same time. ➤ Don't have a hurricane supply kit? From the basics to the extras, here's what you need "It only takes one storm to make it an impactful year for your community," the National Hurricane Center Miami posted on X. "Hurricane season is a marathon, not a sprint." On Aug. 1, specific hurricane supplies became permanently tax free in Florida, ranging from batteries to generators. ➤ See list of emergency supplies you can now buy tax free Florida weather radar for Aug. 20, 2025Weather watches and warnings issued in FloridaWhen is the Atlantic hurricane season?The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. Ninety-seven percent of tropical cyclone activity occurs during this time period, NOAA said. The Atlantic basin includes the northern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of America, as the Gulf of Mexico is now known in the U.S. per an order from President Trump. NOAA and the National Hurricane Center are now using Gulf of America on its maps and in its advisories. When is the peak of hurricane season?Hurricane season's ultimate peak is Sept. 10 but the season goes through Nov. 30. Credit: NOAAThe peak of the season is Sept. 10, with the most activity happening between mid-August and mid-October, according to the Hurricane Center. Hurricane names for 2025 seasonHere are the names for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, along with how to pronounce them: Andrea (June 20) Barry (June 29) Chantal (July 5) Dexter (Aug. 3) Erin: AIR-rin (Tropical storm: Aug. 11; Hurricane: Aug. 15; Major hurricane Aug. 16) Fernand: fair-NAHN Gabrielle: ga-bree-ELL Humberto: oom-BAIR-toh Imelda: ee-MEHL-dah Jerry: JEHR-ee Karen: KAIR-ren Lorenzo: loh-REN-zoh Melissa: meh-LIH-suh Nestor: NES-tor Olga: OAL-guh Pablo: PAHB-lo Rebekah: reh-BEH-kuh Sebastien: se-BAS-tee-en Tanya: TAHN-yuh Van: van Wendy: WEN-dee 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 Treasure Coast Newspapers: Hurricane Erin spaghetti models, tracker, path View the full article

Prosecutors in the south of France said Tuesday they are investigating the death of a 46-year-old man who died during a livestream showing him being mistreated by two onscreen partners. The man — real name Raphael Graven, but known online as "Jean Pormanove" or "JP" — had built a following by putting on live internet shows in which he was abused or humiliated. Prosecutors in the city of Nice said he died Monday in the nearby village of Contes. Internet users said that the video — screened live on an Australian platform called Kick but widely shared afterwards — showed Graven lying immobile under a bed cover as one of two men in the room with him threw a plastic water bottle in his direction. French government minister Clara Chappaz called the streamer's death an "absolute horror." "Jean Pormanove was humiliated and mistreated for months live on the Kick platform," Chappaz wrote on X, adding that she referred the incident to French media regulators. "The responsibility of online platforms regarding the dissemination of illicit content is not optional: it is the law," Chappaz continued. "This type of failure can lead to the worst and has no place in France, Europe, or anywhere else." The Nice prosecutors' office said it had launched an investigation to determine the cause of death, and had ordered an autopsy. Police in Nice have already for the past eight months been probing alleged "deliberate violent act" against "vulnerable people" that have been ending up as videos on the internet. That investigation, started in December, sprang from a report by French outlet Mediapart revealing the existence of such videos, followed by thousands of viewers, especially on the Kick platform. Asked about that investigation, Kick declined to provide any information, citing its policy of confidentiality. The platform is seen as having less stringent user terms than those of its rival, the better-known Twitch streaming service. Graven emerged on social media about five years ago and had about 500,000 followers on other social media platforms like TikTok and Twitch, Le Parisien reported. He was known for his gaming streams, "but also for extreme challenges with other streamers," the outlet reported. Other social media influencers have been targets of deadly violence during livestreams in recent months. In June, the Venezuelan prosecutor's office launched an investigation into the livestreamed murder of a popular TikTok user. In May, the murder of a young influencer during a livestream in Jalisco, in western Mexico, shocked the country. Prosecutors opened an investigation for "femicide" after the murder of 23-year-old Valeria Márquez. Trump sounds off on potential security guarantees for Ukraine London Zoo has its annual weigh-in for about 10,000 animals Reporter's Notebook: The death of "skibidi"? View the full article

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian forces have advanced in the east of Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, taking the village of Novoheorhiivka close to the Donetsk region, Russia's defence ministry said on Wednesday. Russian forces said in July they had taken their first village in Dnipropetrovsk. U.S. estimates of the battlefield suggest Russian forces control less than 1% of the region. Dnipropetrovsk is not one of the five regions of Ukraine that Russia has claimed as its own territory. Ukraine's battlefield-mapping project DeepState showed that Russian troops were at least 1-2 kilometres from Novoheorhiivka as of Tuesday. There was no public comment from the Ukrainian military. It usually does not comment on Russian claims of incremental territorial gains. "Soldiers of the 57th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade pushed out the enemy from Novoheorhiivka in the Dnipropetrovsk region," Russia's defence ministry said. Reuters could not independently confirm the report. Russia controls nearly 114,500 square km (44,600 square miles) or 19% of Ukraine, including Crimea and a major chunk of territory in the east and southeast of the country, according to open source maps of the battlefield. Russia's defence ministry also said its forces had hit port infrastructure used to supply fuel to Ukrainian forces and a plant used to assemble drones. The statement did not name the port. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said earlier that Russia had struck a gas distribution station in the southwestern region of Odesa. Russia's defence ministry also said its forces had captured the settlements of Pankivka and Sukhetse in eastern Ukraine. (Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Anastasia Teterevleva; editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Mark Trevelyan and Gareth Jones) View the full article

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Top diplomats from Pakistan, China and Afghanistan are meeting on Wednesday in Kabul for a trilateral summit aimed at boosting political, regional and economic cooperation, officials said. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi were received by Taliban officials on arrival in the Afghan capital, according to separate statements issued by Islamabad and Beijing. Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement said the talks, hosted by Kabul, will include “comprehensive discussions” on a wide range of issues, including political, economic and regional cooperation. According to Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dar's discussions at the meeting would focus on expanding trade, improving regional connectivity and strengthening joint efforts against terrorism. The last round of the dialogue took place in May in Beijing. The latest development comes more than a month after Russia became the first country to formally recognize the Taliban’s governmen t in Afghanistan. While no country, except from Russian, has offered formal recognition, the Taliban have engaged in high-level talks with many nations and established some diplomatic ties with countries including China and the United Arab Emirates. View the full article

By Geert De Clercq PARIS (Reuters) -French authorities are investigating the death of a man during a live video stream on the Kick live streaming platform, where he had regularly been shown enduring violence and humiliations. Prosecutors ordered an autopsy and opened an investigation into the death of the 46-year-old man in the village of Contes, north of Nice, on Monday. Clara Chappaz, junior minister for AI and digital technology, said Raphael Graven, known online as Jean Pormanove, had regularly featured in videos on Kick, where he was physically assaulted or humiliated by co-streamers as viewers watched live. "The death of Jean Pormanove and the violence he suffered are absolutely horrific," she said on X. Kick Francais said on X it would cooperate with authorities and was undertaking a review of its French content. "Our priority is to protect creators and ensure a safer environment on Kick," it said, adding that "all co-streamers who participated in this live broadcast have been banned pending the ongoing investigation". Kick is an Australia-registered live streaming platform that shares revenue with its content creators. Chappaz said a judicial investigation is underway, that she had referred the matter to digital and audiovisual communication regulator Arcom and that she had filed a report to Pharos, France's internet portal for reporting illicit internet content. She said she asked Kick for explanations, adding: "the responsibility of online platforms for dissemination of illegal content is not optional: it is the law". Yassin Sadouni, a lawyer for one of two co-streamers seen abusing Pormanove, said on BFM television that Pormanove had cardiovascular problems and that the violence in the videos was not real but acted. "All those scenes are just staged, they follow a script," he said. French media have shown excerpts of hours-long videos during which Pormanove is seen suffering blows, insults, strangulation, dousing with paint and oil and being shot at with a paintball gun. It was not clear from the video excerpts if Pormanove voluntarily subjected himself to the violence or was forced to endure it, nor whether the action was real or staged. (Reporting by Geert De ClercqEditing by Frances Kerry) View the full article

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The son of a former Taiwanese legislator has been sentenced to more than two years in prison for a scheme that illegally supplied thousands of tons of fuel oil to North Korea. Huang Chung-wei was sentenced to 28 months in prison by the district court in the southern port city of Kaohsiung on Tuesday. Five others also received prison terms. They were convicted of taking part in loading the fuel onto ships in Taiwan and making the transfers in collaboration with Kwek Kee Seng, a Singaporean businessman wanted by the U.S. whose whereabouts were unknown. Such activity is a violation of Taiwan's Counter-Terrorism Financing Act and other statutes. the court said. Illegal transfers at sea are one of the few ways North Korea, an authoritarian dictatorship considered one of the world’s biggest violators of human rights, can obtain fuel because of strict United Nations sanctions against its nuclear weapons and missile programs. While Taiwan is not a UN member at the insistence of North Korean ally China, it has pledged to follow all of the world body's rulings on Pyongyang. The case against Huang dates back to 2019, when he and Kwek allegedly purchased a fleet of tankers, loaded them with fuel and sent them to make the transfers. North Korea is known to operate a “shadow fleet” of ships operating without active electronic identification equipment. However, U.S. intelligence agencies were able to track the transfers by satellite and provided the information to Kaohsiung investigators, the court said. . Huang's father was a member of Taiwan's legislature for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. It wasn't clear how much money he made from the scheme or whether he would appeal the sentence. View the full article

法國總統馬克龍（Emmanuel Macron，又譯馬克宏）上月底宣布將正式承認巴勒斯坦國引發以色列反對。總理內塔尼亞胡（Benjamin Netanyahu）8月19日正式致函馬克龍，信中批評承認巴勒斯坦國是助長反猶主義，並限期改正。法國總統府當日回應，指內塔尼亞胡言論「卑鄙」且「錯誤」。 法新社報道引述內塔尼亞胡信件內容，指法國呼籲承認巴勒斯坦國並非正常外交舉動，而是綏靖政策，會助長哈馬斯行動並強化他們拒絕釋放人質的立場，並鼓動反猶主義，信中還責令法國在9月23日的猶太新年（Rosh Hashanah）前做出實質舉動對抗這種反猶主義。 2025年8月17日，以色列特拉維夫，圖為示威者上街舉旗標語促內塔尼亞胡政府結束加沙戰爭帶回人質。（Reuters）法國總統府表示，法國將「保護並將永遠保護國內猶太公民」。信中還指，現在是需要「嚴肅認真、負起責任」的時候，而非「混淆與操弄」之時。 馬克龍早前宣布將在9月召開的聯合國大會中正式承認巴勒斯坦國，是首個做出此決定的七國集團（G7）國家，澳洲之後也宣布將承認。而在聯合國193個成員國中，法國是目前承認或計劃承認巴勒斯坦國的至少145個國家之一。 以色列重申要求哈馬斯釋放所有人質　仍未回應最新停火方案以色列前情報局長錄音曝光：50命抵1命　加沙「必須」死50000巴人巴勒斯坦總理訪埃及　獲全力支持推動加沙停火丹麥首相：內塔尼亞胡成為「問題人物」　歐盟應考慮制裁以色列 View the full article

伍富橋今日（20日）與陳庭欣、關楚耀和陳安立一同現身PPA職業匹克球巡迴賽的新聞發布會，四人更即場切磋交流！伍富橋接受《香港01》訪問時透露早在2022年已接觸Pickleball更考獲教練牌，本想報名參賽但無奈已額滿：「希望有機會我都可以代表香港出去打，希望畀個新嘅目標畀自己，除咗演藝事業同健身事業，其實Pickleball都可以發展吓。」 伍富橋、陳庭欣、關楚耀和陳安立私下經常一同玩Pickleball。（葉志明攝）伍富橋已考獲Pickleball教練牌。（葉志明攝）伍富橋已考獲Pickleball教練牌。（葉志明攝）伍富橋今年與TVB的經理人合約結束，宣布成為獨立歌手，他透露今年除了會擴充自己的健身中心外，更會推出新歌：「今次好開心可以搵到舒文舒老闆做監製，我同佢試音已經試咗一次，已經感受到佢嘅功力，因為試音無實際嘅歌詞，但已經感受佢做監製去帶領我做歌手去錄去唱嘅功力。（係咪好嚴厲？）係呀，行內直頭話你會俾舒老闆『強姦』，係咁『強姦、強姦』，純粹係佢好嚴厲，唱10次、20次佢先ok，但我自己係好鍾意被『強姦』，我唔係M底，但好鍾意俾佢雕琢每一個句，每一隻字，點樣先係唱到最好聽，我都好鍾意去研究聲線，點先係聽出嚟最好聽，我都好enjoy呢一部份，所以都好enjoy俾舒老闆『強姦』。」 伍富橋已是獨立歌手。（葉志明攝）伍富橋透露將會與舒文合作。（葉志明攝） View the full article

Since they first appeared in the United States over 100 years ago, Japanese Beetles have made their presence known in gardens, orchards and vineyards across much of the eastern and midwestern states. Just the sight of the shimmering, metallic green and copper bodies devouring the leaves, flowers and fruits of over 300 different plants on their menu is enough to raise the blood pressure of gardeners and farmers alike. Among the destructive insects’ favorite foods are fruit trees and grapevines. Vineyard and orchard owners across Wisconsin have been waging a constant battle against the voracious appetites of these mobile pests that can defoliate plants, impacting the yield and quality of the fruit. Fruit growers battle beetles and diseaseFor years, Adam Rabe has been helping Wisconsin vineyard owners protect their precious crops against the imported pests. Rabe, who owns Dirt Road Vineyards, is a vineyard management and consulting business in southeastern Wisconsin. His business provides consulting services as well as installing vineyards, brokering fruit, handling pest and disease control and harvesting the grapes. He spends a lot of time on the tractor, prowling the rows of his client’s grapevines, scouting for pests and disease. While the growing season started dry and slow, constant rain showers have amped up the disease pressure. “A lot of growers earlier had been dealing with the black rot and now we’re seeing a lot of downy mildew that thrives with heat and moisture,” Rabe said. For the past three years, Rabe says pressure from Japanese beetles has been minimal in the southern part of the state. “I’ve been working at Cambridge Winery just southeast of Madison this week, and I haven’t had to spray for beetles at all this year, or last year,” he said. “However, my clients in the driftless region have definitely been spraying.” Christelle Guédot, a fruit crop entomologist and extension specialist in the Department of Entomology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, says that Japanese beetles were once the bane of gardeners and farmers in the southern half of the state, but their range has since spread northwards. “Over the past 10 years, they have been detected by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection up in Bayfield. We also trap many hundreds in Spooner and we see them now in Door County,” Guédot said. The beetles have also been wreaking havoc in the northeastern counties, including Oneida and Vilas. While many growers swear the beetles seem to be increasing in number, Guédot says that’s not the case. “Their populations fluctuate from year to year depending on temperature and moisture levels, particularly in the spring and some in summer. If it is too dry in the spring, as it was in 2023, they may not emerge from the soil in high numbers,” she said, noting the low population of beetles across the state due to drought. Japanese beetles handpicked off of grapevines meet their demise in a sudsy bath.Battling the small but mighty beetleControlling and eradicating Japanese Beetles can be a tall task. These invasive species breed rapidly and feed for approximately six weeks during July and August during which they destroy plants — including roses, raspberry bushes, perennial hibiscus, fruit trees, and grapevines and more. If they run out of a food source in one area, they take wing and head elsewhere. Rabe says Japanese beetles are active flyers capable of covering up to five miles with help from the wind. Once they settle in a vineyard, beetles set their sights on the upper part of the canopy where established vines can generally tolerate some major damage. However, young vines are more susceptible as beetles devour the green plant tissue, until the skeletonized leaf resembles a fine doily. According to the UW Fruit program, severe defoliation of grapevines by Japanese beetles can weaken the plants, potentially impacting yield and fruit quality. Guédot says some growers see Japanese beetles as helpers for the thinning of the canopy after fruit set to expose the clusters of grapes to the sun. However, commercial growers will spray insecticides when defoliation levels reach a certain threshold. "The threshold for treatment for some growers may be 5-10 beetles on a vine, but I'd say 30% defoliation on a leaf is about the average threshold,' Rade said. "For me, spraying insecticides is on an 'as-needed' basis. And it's tricky to find spray windows. I try to spray in the morning as much as possible or in the late evening when the beneficial (insects) and butterflies aren't around as well." Handpicking is the strategy recommended for home gardeners. For commercial growers with acres and acres of vines, there are other weapons in the arsenal. Many wineries across the country take pride in sustainable farming practices. Battling Japanese beetles may include a multi-prong approach. Some growers may install row covers to physically block beetles from reaching the vines during peak infestation periods. While it is effective, it's costly. Rabe says pheromone traps, advertised to attract and capture adult beetles, may bring more beetles into the area instead of decreasing the numbers in your vineyard. However, some growers may use the bags to attract beetles to some sacrificial rows on the edges of the vineyard, then spray them in that concentrated area. Other growers may opt to use biological controls. Beneficial nematodes may be introduced into the soil to target the larvae stage of the beetles, preventing them from maturing into adults. Natural predators such as birds like robins, starlings, and crows are known to eat both adult beetles and their larvae (grubs), according to Orkin. Certain insects, such as predatory stink bugs, assassin bugs, and ground beetles, also prey on Japanese beetles. UW-Madison entomologist PJ Liesch told the Green Bay Press-Gazette there’s also some evidence that a small parasitic fly might be helping with Japanese beetle populations. The female winsome fly lays her eggs just behind the head of the beetle. Once those eggs hatch, the larva burrows into the beetle and kills it. Guédot says many vineyards have grass growing between the rows and around the perimeter. However, it creates ideal conditions for Japanese beetles to lay eggs since they prefer to lay eggs in mown grass and in moist soil. She says research shows that tilling or managing ground covers in the row middles may impact beetle populations. Rabe says a large percentage of vineyards use some kind of insecticides to control pest populations and plant disease. Many take care to select and apply chemicals to minimize the impact on insects and the environment. "There are a lot of chemicals on biological and organic sprays out there that are coming on the market, as that's the kind of demand out there," he said. "Unfortunately, in our area, pesticides are a necessary evil that we have to use if we want to have a crop." Wine grapes grow on a trellis at Between the Rows vineyard in the town of Empire in Fond du Lac County.Beetles do have a preference for certain cultivarsGuédot says Japanese beetles do prefer certain plant species over others, including grape varieties and certain apple varieties. And while growers select their fruit varieties for many reasons — taste, hardiness, consumer preference and pest resistance — there are some varieties among raspberry, blueberry, grape and apple cultivars prized by the pests. Fruit and vegetable grower Bill Zeleske says Japanese beetles have shown a penchant for certain fruit varieties on his small farm Fondy Fruits & More. "A couple of years ago the beetles made lace of all the leaves on my table grapes and they like to decimate the leaves on my Honeycrisp apple trees," Zeleske said. "I guess they have their preferences, too." The Fond du Lac-based grower has also planted more disease-resistant fruit crops, including new apple tree varieties. He does, however, spray his fruit for pests. "We have a lot of trouble with wasps eating fruit, especially the grapes and blackberries. I sometimes see them in the apple and pear trees," he said. A new pest is on the horizonRabe says newer pests that burrow into fruit are working their way towards Wisconsin. The spotted wing drosophila has been spotted in northern Illinois and Michigan. It's a pest that could devastate grape crops in Wisconsin. According to the University of Michigan, the spotted wing drosophila can cause significant damage to grape crops. The invasive fly lays eggs in healthy, ripening fruit, unlike most other fruit flies that attack damaged or overripe fruit. The larvae then feed inside the fruit, causing it to soften and rot, leading to significant losses for grape growers. "Growing fruit in Wisconsin and the Midwest is very challenging," Rabe said. "It's really having boots on the ground and eyes open and having the resources like folks in the Wisconsin Winery Association to help. They can help growers get a handle on issues before they have to deal with them. "It's pretty sad after growing your fruit for a whole year only to lose it because you didn't go out and scout and recognize the issue and take care of it ahead of time." This article originally appeared on Wisconsin State Farmer: Japanese beetles are a formidable foe for Wisconsin grape growers View the full article

KABUL (Reuters) -China told Afghanistan on Wednesday that Beijing was keen on exploring and mining minerals in Afghanistan and wanted Kabul to formally join its Belt and Road Initiative, the Afghan Taliban foreign ministry said. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting Kabul and held talks with Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, the ministry said in a statement, adding that both countries wanted to expand cooperation in a range of areas. Wang said both countries were working together to remove obstacles in the trade of farm products and increase Afghanistan's exports to China, according to the Afghan statement. "Mr. Wang Yi also mentioned that China intends to initiate practical mining activities this year," it said. Beijing was yet to issue its readout of the talks. China was the first country to appoint an ambassador to Afghanistan under the Taliban and has sought to develop its ties with the hardline Islamist group that took control of the war-torn country in 2021. The impoverished country, rich in lithium, copper and iron deposits, could offer a wealth of mineral resources to boost Beijing's supply chain security, analysts say. (Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar; Writing by Sudipto Ganguly; editing by YP Rajesh) View the full article

By Jessie Pang and James Pomfret HONG KONG (Reuters) -The lawyer for Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai argued on Wednesday that supporting individual rights is not a crime in the final stretch of a closely watched and years-long national security trial. Lai, 77, who founded the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces, and a charge of conspiracy to publish seditious material. He faces a maximum life sentence. The trial is widely seen as a test for judicial independence in the financial hub under national security laws that were imposed by China in 2020 in response to mass pro-democracy demonstrations. Lai, a longstanding critic of the Chinese Communist Party, is one of the most high-profile figures to face prosecution under the law. His trial has been condemned by some countries like the United States as politically motivated. Hong Kong and Chinese authorities say Lai is being given a fair trial. Lai's lawyer Robert Pang, who began his final legal submission on Wednesday, said Lai had been defending and exercising basic rights. "It is not wrong to support freedom of expression. It is not wrong to support human rights," Pang told the three-judge panel that is expected to deliver a verdict later this year once this current round of final legal submissions is concluded after around one week. 'NOT WRONG NOT TO LOVE THE GOVERNMENT' "It is not wrong to try to persuade the government to change its policy. Nor is it wrong not to love a particular administration or even the country, because ... you can't force someone to think in one way or another," Pang added. One of the judges, Esther Toh, said that this was not what the prosecution argued. "It's not wrong not to love the government, but if you do that by certain nefarious means, then it's wrong," Toh said. Pang also disputed the prosecution's citing of 161 articles published by the Apple Daily between April 1, 2019 and June 4 2021 as seditious, saying they were "insufficient to draw any inference" of a conspiracy. The prosecution alleges that Lai colluded with overseas officials including those in the first Trump administration to impose sanctions or conduct hostile activities against Chinese and Hong Kong authorities, including trade embargoes. Earlier on Wednesday, the prosecution wrapped up its final submission, saying there was "overwhelming evidence" to show Lai was the "mastermind" of the alleged conspiracy to collude with foreign forces. It added that Lai had done nothing to stop illegal activities engaged in by other co-conspirators and through advocacy groups critical of China, such as "Stand With Hong Kong" and the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC). Lai, whose health is fragile according to his family, was provided with a heart monitor and medication after the court was told that he had suffered heart "palpitations". Over 320 people have been arrested under the national security laws so far, including prominent activist Joshua Wong who is serving a 4-year, 8-month prison term for subversion, and now faces a fresh security charge. (Reporting by Jessie Pang; editing by Mark Heinrich) View the full article