Desmond Milligan

From left to right - Amy Acton, Vivek Ramaswamy, Jim Tressel and Tim Ryan. (Photo from WEWS.) Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine still won’t endorse a successor, having consistently said that there is plenty of time for more candidates to get into the race. With more than a year until the midterms, that is already ringing true for the Democratic Party. The clock is ticking. “This race, really, kind of started early,” Gov. Mike DeWine said. Millions of dollars have already poured into the race to succeed DeWine. Out the gate, the biggest named Democrat is COVID-era health director Amy Acton. “They want to see leaders use common sense for the common good,” Acton told us in an interview Friday. The doctor from Youngstown has already broken fundraising records for a Democratic candidate this early with $1.4 million, and she said bipartisanship will be key to her campaign. “I will always be focused on Ohioans and whatever it takes to move them forward and solve the issues that affect their everyday lives,” Acton said. Now that former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown is running to reclaim a Senate seat, former Congressman Tim Ryan’s spokesperson said this has “renewed and heightened Tim Ryan’s interest in running for governor to further serve the people of Ohio.” “I would love nothing more than for the Democratic side to have a competitive primary with multiple candidates because we have unprecedented unity on the Republican side,” Vivek Ramaswamy, the GOP-endorsed Republican candidate, said during a one-on-one interview, but followed up with similar sentiments this week. Ramaswamy raised $9.7 million, also a record-breaking number for this early on in the campaign. “I’m in this to unite everybody in the state of Ohio around a vision of economic growth,” Ramaswamy said. The Cincinnati businessman also won President Donald Trump’s endorsement, but not from the top executive in Ohio. DeWine — who has repeatedly avoided talking about Ramaswamy and has, on occasion, rolled his eyes at the mention of his name — and the 40-year-old businessman differ dramatically. “Oh, there’ll be ample time,” DeWine said about his endorsement. “We’re still a long ways away.” DeWine has continued to promote the work of Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, who said in May that he is considering a run. At a business event for Amazon in early August, Tressel was asked if he could match Ramaswamy’s fundraising and name ID. “Well, I haven’t raised any money,” the lieutenant governor responded. “I’ve been busy at things like this because I see you guys all the time. Today is ‘Amazon,’ and it became ‘Intel,’ but it’s not ‘Jim Tressel’s future in this world.’” But one thing is for sure about the DeWine endorsement. “I’m the governor of the state, Republican governor,” DeWine said. “I’m gonna support the Republican nominee for governor and other statewide offices.” Candidates have until early February to get into the race. Other candidates who have started to campaign for governor include Republicans Heather Hill and Philip Funderburg, Democrat Jacob Chiara and independent Tim Grady. Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on X and Facebook. This article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and is published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content-sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication by other news outlets as it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE View the full article

Suicide rates have declined by almost 30% worldwide over the past three decades, according to a large international study published in Nature Mental Health. Researchers analysed World Health Organization (WHO) data from 102 countries and found that the average rate dropped from 10.33 suicides per 100,000 people in 1990 to 7.24 in 2021, marking a decline of 29.9%. The decrease was more pronounced in high-income countries, where rates fell 32.1%, compared to 27.3% in low- and middle-income countries. Definitions of suicide may differ between countries, which could distort the statistics, the researchers cautioned. The study, published on Monday, was led by Soeun Kim and Selin Woo of Kyung Hee University College of Medicine in Seoul. In Europe, the researchers pointed to responsible media reporting and efforts to strengthen young people's social and emotional skills as contributing factors. Experts also cited improved access to psychiatric and psychosocial care, reduced stigma around mental illness, and prevention programs as drivers of the downward trend. In 1990, high-income countries had relatively high suicide rates of 12.68 per 100,000 people, which dropped to 8.61 by 2021. Low- and middle-income countries saw rates fall from 7.88 to 5.73 in the same period. However, the study noted that under reporting remains likely in some countries due to stigma, religious prohibitions or the criminalization of suicide. Rising rates have also been observed in developing countries undergoing rapid urbanization. Looking ahead, the researchers project that the global suicide rate could decline further to around 6.49 per 100,000 by 2050. But they cautioned that risks remain high for specific populations and countries. View the full article

The developer of the proposed data center near Delaware City has cut the original plan in half, according to New Castle County Land Use Department records. But two hurdles in the approval process are out of the county’s control. Initially, the developer proposed a 6-million-square-foot data center spread over 11 buildings on two properties east of Route 1, one north of Red Lion Creek and the other south of the creek. See the original data center plan: Massive 11-building data center proposed near Delaware City, bringing hundreds of jobs But the exploratory plan filed with the county lists a data center and electrical yard on the “south campus,” with only an electric yard on the property north of the creek. The exploratory plan for the proposed data center near Delaware City includes six data center buildings and two electrical yards on the property south of Red Lion Creek near Governor Lea Road, but no data center buildings on the property north of Red Lion Creek, only electrical yards.The zoning of the south campus would allow for a data center, but the zoning for the north campus would not, according to a preliminary assessment by the county land use department. “That’s currently what we believe, but we’re going to take a closer look at it,” said Kevin Caneco, county councilman for the 12th District which includes the sites. The plan on the south campus is for six buildings with a total of 3 million square feet, about half of the developer’s initial proposal in a letter to the county and in discussions at the public meeting at the Delaware City Fire Hall July 24. The audience fills the Delaware City Fire Hall during the meeting on July 24, 2025 about the proposal for a 6-million-square-foot data center northwest of Delaware City.The plan also shows two areas labeled “electrical yard.” On the north campus, no data center buildings are listed, only three areas labeled “electrical yard.” “I still have my concerns. It’s still a very big data center,” Caneco said. “As I’ve said, as the district councilman I reserve judgment so I can get all information before making a decision.” Caneco said if the proposal fits the zoning and meets all county building code requirements, then the developer could file a lawsuit if county council denies the proposal. But before any county decision, Caneco said two state reviews will happen. The plan has to go to the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, also known as DNREC, for a ruling on if it’s allowed under the Coastal Zone Act. The proposal will also be reviewed by the Delaware Preliminary Land Use Service. What is the Delaware Coastal Zone Act?Both properties where the data center has been proposed near Delaware City are east of Route 1 and within the Coastal Zone, which runs along the Delaware River, the C&D Canal, the Delaware Bay, the Inland Bays and the Atlantic Ocean. The Coastal Zone Act, passed by the Delaware General Assembly in 1971, prohibits future heavy industrial development and created a permitting program for manufacturing activities within Delaware’s coastal zone, according to the DNREC website. The Delaware Coastal Zone is shown in light green along the state's coast and the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.DNREC determines whether a proposed use would be prohibited, if it would not require a coastal zone permit because it is not manufacturing or heavy industry, or if it would require a permit and which type. “If it is unclear whether a proposed activity would be prohibited or unregulated, or which type of permit is necessary, the applicant can submit a request for a status decision to provide more details to DNREC to make that determination,” the DNREC website reads. The data center proposal “is in the early coordination phase of a status decision, which precedes a permit application submittal, if required,” said Michael Globetti, DNREC media relations manager. “A status decision determines whether the proposed activity is subject to the Coastal Zone Act.” The DNREC secretary makes the final decision, Globetti said. In a Coastal Zone Act review, DNREC evaluates environmental impacts, economic effects, aesthetic effects, the number and type of supporting facilities and impacts of those facilities, neighboring land uses including effects on adjacent residential areas and consistency with county and municipal comprehensive planning. For permitting decisions, DNREC also evaluates an offset proposal to compensate for potential negative environmental impacts as a result of the activity. All Coastal Zone Act decisions have a public comment period, and all new permit decisions also have a mandatory public hearing. Public hearings are listed on the DNREC webpage, “Coastal Zone Act application materials” under “recent public notices.” Appeals of a permit or other decision of the DNREC Secretary are handled by the Coastal Zone Industrial Control Board, which is an independent entity from DNREC. What is the state’s Preliminary Land Use Service review?The Preliminary Land Use Service (PLUS) “brings together all applicable state agencies to provide early, advisory input on land development projects in Delaware,” according to the PLUS website. The next PLUS meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, starting with a pre-meeting discussion by PLUS reviewers. The agenda doesn’t specifically list the proposal from Starwood Digital Ventures; however, at 9:30 a.m., the agenda lists a review and discussion on New Castle County data centers and a review of a proposed county ordinance that would create standards for data centers. This meeting will be conducted online and in person at the Haslet Armory, 122 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. South, Dover, in room 133. For a link to online access, see https://publicmeetings.delaware.gov/ Public comments will be allowed at the end of each application after the state agencies have shared comments. Each person wishing to comment on the application under review will have up to three minutes. More comments about data center: Many unanswered questions at meeting about proposed data center near Delaware City What’s in the data center developer’s exploratory plan?In the exploratory plan filed with the county, the owner is New Castle Campus Development LLC of Parsippany, New Jersey, and the developer is SDV Delaware LLC of Greenwich, Connecticut. “SDV” stands for “Starwood Digital Ventures.” Two properties are listed, one with an address of 825 Governor Lea Road, New Castle, and the other with an address of 0 River Road (Route 9) – that’s right, Zero River Road. For the Governor Lea Road property, the zoning is heavy industrial and commercial regional. The site area is 242.30 acres with 1.42 acres for right of way. The plan is for six buildings, each with an area of 250,000-square-foot with two stories, for a total floor area of 500,000 square feet per building and a height of 65 feet. The total floor area of the six buildings is 3 million square feet. The six buildings will cover 34.43 acres. The exploratory plan also shows two areas labeled “electrical yard.” Impervious surfaces like parking lots are proposed on 42.00 acres. Open space in the plan is 161.44 acres. Stormwater management is proposed on 3.00 acres. Parking is required for a minimum of 25 spaces per building based on square footage. The developer plans 50 spaces per building and another five spaces each for two guardhouses for a total of 310 parking spaces for vehicles and 20 bicycle spaces. The projected average sewer flow is 2,500 gallons per day per building, so for six buildings, that’s 15,000 gallons per day during average. The peak sewer flow is listed at 60,000 gallons per day. New Castle County sewerage must be approved by the New Castle County Department of Public Works. The exploratory plan states: “sewer capacity existed to accommodate the anticipated flows generated by this additional development.” As for water, that is proposed to be supplied by Veolia Delaware, with approval from DNREC and the Delaware Department of Public Health. The property includes tidal wetlands of 41.25 acres, wetlands of 6.75 acres, a flood plain of 57.23 acres and a riparian buffer of 19.40 acres. These wetland, flood plain and riparian buffer areas are listed as “not permitted to be disturbed” except in part of the riparian buffer for grading associated with stormwater conveyance and buffer restoration. The landscape plan lists the restoration and reforestation plan after grading. Electric substation proposed on River Road (Route 9)For the property at 0 River Road (Route 9), New Castle, the area is 339.01 acres with 1.22 acres for a right of way. Most of land will be designated as open space, 304.44 acres, along with impervious surfaces of 32.35 acres and a stormwater management area of 1.00 acres. It’s zoned suburban. What’s proposed is a 30-acre electric substation enclosed by a fence, as the county requires. The county code says utility installations can't be closer than 50 feet from a property line and 150 feet from a dwelling unit. The developer proposes 110 feet from a property line and 2,150 feet from a dwelling unit. The property has tidal wetlands of 49.56 acres, wetlands of 6.75 acres, a flood plain of 57.66 acres and a riparian buffer of 19.37 acres. Reporter Ben Mace covers real estate, development and business news. Reach him at [email protected]. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Data center plan near Delaware City cut in half. Does it fit Coastal Zone? View the full article

Texas Democratic State Rep. Nicole Collier spent Monday night locked in the state House of Representatives in Austin after refusing to sign a pledge to return for a vote on Republican redistricting proposals. Collier’s protest came after 51 of the state’s opposition lawmakers fled for Illinois, New York and Massachusetts two weeks ago to deny the GOP majority a quorum in the House, preventing it from holding a ballot on plans to create five new red seats ahead of next year’s midterms that would almost certainly have passed had the Democrats participated. After a fortnight of Republican fury in which House Speaker Dustin Burrows issued civil arrest warrants, the runaways finally returned to their posts, only to find that Burrows expected them to sign a statement committing themselves to returning for the scheduled vote at 10 am on Wednesday – and be accompanied by individual law enforcement escorts in the interim. Texas State Rep. Nicole Collier listens to House Speaker Dustin Burrows announce the need for permission slips for Democratic state representatives to leave the House chamber in Austin on Monday August 18 2025 (AP)The speaker’s ultimatum meant the rebel Democrats would not be able to leave the chamber without risking arrest unless they put pen to paper. Collier, who represents Fort Worth, flatly refused to comply with what her side mockingly characterized as a “permission slip” or “hall pass” system that effectively rendered their liberty conditional. “I refuse to sign,” she told Fox News’s Austin affiliate. “I will not agree to be in [Department of Public Safety] custody. I’m not a criminal. I am exercising my right to resist and oppose the decisions of our government. So this is my form of protest.” In a subsequent statement, she elaborated: “My constituents sent me to Austin to protect their voices and rights. I refuse to sign away my dignity as a duly elected representative just so Republicans can control my movements and monitor me with police escorts. “My community is majority-minority, and they expect me to stand up for their representation. When I press that button to vote, I know these maps will harm my constituents – I won’t just go along quietly with their intimidation or their discrimination.” The Independent has contacted Collier’s office for further comment. Collier takes a call from the floor of the House, where she has chosen to remain until Wednesday (Reuters)Refusing to play ball but still bound by the speaker’s conditions, Collier instead spent the night among the otherwise empty chairs of the legislative chamber, offering a livestream of her quiet protest on her X account. Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu and fellow representative Vince Perez stayed with her on the House floor in a show of solidarity, with Wu posting a picture of the snacks he was bringing with him, including dried peaches and grapes and instant ramen noodles. Collier also received a message of support from former Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke, who said: “A true hero, refusing to submit, fighting these fascists by herself if she has to. We are with you Nicole!” The drama began on August 3 when the Democrats went into exile in the three northern blue states rather than enable a gerrymandering push that would, in all likelihood, have ended with their Republican counterparts redrawing the electoral map to their advantage with one eye on the November 2026 midterm elections, creating five extra seats in right-leaning areas. Texas State Rep. Gene Wu holds a press conference in Carol Stream, Illinois, on Sunday August 3 2025 after fleeing a Republican gerrymandering push as Illinois Governor JB Pritzker looks on (Reuters)That would enable the Lone Star State to send five more Republicans to Washington, D.C., to help force through President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda on Capitol Hill, a great help to the president when the congressional GOP’s majority is currently so slender. By fleeing, the Democrats denied the GOP the two-thirds majority attendance it required in the 150-seat state House to go ahead with its vote on the proposals. The lawmakers won the support of the Democratic National Committee, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and influential blue state governors like Gavin Newsom and JB Pritzker. Still, they risked arrest and $500 per day fines for their actions. After Newsom vowed to fight fire with fire in California and redraw his map to favor Democrats as a means of remedying the measures being undertaken by the Texas Republicans, the southerners were finally able to make their way home. “Now that we have California backing us up, we try to get back here as fast as possible,” Wu said. “With that margin of the safety, we can come back here and say, let's stick this thing to court.” View the full article

政府飲用水風波未平息，懷疑造假的中標供應商「鑫鼎鑫」負責人被捕後被以串謀詐騙起訴。《香港01》獲得今年7月由物流署發送至各部門的內部通告，解釋政府專用供應商，以及日後訂水安排。其中「鑫鼎鑫」的每桶單價最貴，28至32元，比最便宜的屈臣氏Cool清涼水貴18至34%。 物流署此前表示，不宜比較不同地區組別中標價，各組別的中標者提出的價格均為該組別所收標書中最低。 有港島區公務員表示，自從轉用「鑫鼎鑫」後，傳真或電郵下單後無回音，亦無客服跟進，有如「無底洞」，與以往的訂購程序有很大分別。 政府通告顯示，鑫鼎鑫聲稱製造商是樂百氏，每桶單價28至32元。（政府通告）鑫鼎鑫獲得向政府部門港島的辦公室、海灘及離島部份辦公室供應桶裝水的合約，據物流署向政府各部門發出的訂水通告，鑫鼎鑫向不同地區供水的單價都有分別。 鑫鼎鑫（港島）　　　　$28 鑫鼎鑫（港島海灘）　　$30 鑫鼎鑫（離島）　　　　$32 屈臣氏Cool（九龍）　　$23.8 Happy喜士（新界）　　$26 合約訂明鑫鼎鑫向政府部門港島辦公室供應飲用水，每桶連運費單價是28元；供港島康文署轄下海灘的桶裝水，每桶價錢為30元；離島辦公室則收每桶32元。 獲批合約向政府九龍辦公室供應「COOL清涼水」的屈臣氏，每桶連運費要價23.8元；而向新界辦公室及海灘供應「喜士Happy」飲用水的時貿國際有限公司，每桶水的收費都是26元。 換言之，鑫鼎鑫為三間供應商中收費最貴，較最便宜的屈臣氏Cool清涼水貴18至34%。 鑫鼎鑫收訂單的電郵地址分別是微軟和騰訊開放予公眾註冊的電子郵箱，非企業專屬。（政府通告）文件亦估計了港島海灘及離島辦公室，每年約需訂購近25000桶水。按合約訂明的單價計算，單是海灘及離島的訂單，鑫鼎鑫每年可收約80萬元。 內通告訂明，政府部門向鑫鼎鑫、屈臣氏或時貿國際訂水，都需要透過電郵或傳真，傳送訂水表格，當中鑫鼎鑫的電郵地址為「@outlook.com」及「@qq.com」，分別是微軟和騰訊開放予公眾註冊的電子郵箱，而非企業專屬。 為港島和部分離島的政府辦公室供應「鑫樂觀音山」飲用水的鑫鼎鑫，被政府政府叫停合約。圖中地點為香港壁球中心。（廖雁雄攝）屈臣氏的Cool清涼水，以及時貿國際的「Happy喜士水」，有較詳盡的訂購表格，電郵地址分別為兩間公司的專屬域名電郵；屈臣氏更設有網上及電話訂購，並有政府客戶服務專線。 鑫鼎鑫董事兼股東呂子聰欺詐罪，8月19日被控由警方押送到法庭提堂。(廖雁雄攝)有港島區公務員表示，自從轉用「鑫鼎鑫」後，傳真或電郵下單後無回音，亦無客服跟進，有如「無底洞」，與以往的訂購程序有很大分別。 合約商每兩個月需至少送一桶水到獲認可的獨立實驗室，自費進行檢測，以證明符合食環署食物安全中心發出的《食物微生物含量指引》以及《公眾衞生及市政條例》下的標準。如政府認為桶裝水不符訂門的標準，亦可抽驗。 向新界辦公室及海灘供應「喜士Happy」飲用水的時貿國際有限公司，每桶水的收費都是26元。(廖雁雄攝)政府飲用水｜商人涉提供冒牌水被控欺詐罪　還押至11.11再提訊逾5千萬飲用水錢政府找數未？許正宇：錢或其他善後物流署跟進緊政府飲用水｜被捕鑫鼎鑫董事股東兩夫婦　據悉2023年涉詐騙案被捕政府飲用水｜警拘鑫鼎鑫董事及股東通緝內地男　水來自東莞樟木頭 View the full article

「人氣女神」李佳芯（Ali）與「百變天王」李思捷，日前出席保健品牌活動，期間二人除了與大中華區總經理Erwin Lai分享健康心得，還大開金口獻唱，吸引在場數百位貴賓蜂湧到台前拍照，氣氛熾熱掀起高潮，李佳芯的唱功明顯大躍進，現場興奮狂呼安歌，人氣爆燈！ 以一身粉紅色背心短裙上陣的李佳芯，大曬長腿仙氣十足。以一身粉紅色背心短裙上陣的李佳芯，大曬長腿仙氣十足，甫出場已掌聲如雷。對於離巢後選擇自組工作室，李佳芯在台上分享走入人生新階段的心情：「每一次踏入新階段，都會有自己打擊自己嘅聲音，呢啲時間我會不斷鞭策同認識自己，努力計劃下一步點做；以前只係演員身份，淨係演戲，好幸福，但而家要兼顧好多嘢，大至將來計劃，小至工作室Logo都要自己設計。」 「人氣女神」李佳芯（Ali）與「百變天王」李思捷日前出席保健品牌活動。Ali學會打機減壓 除了大談近況，李佳芯也分享健康心得，提到她最近素顏發文被網民激讚狀態極佳似中學生一事，李佳芯聽聞即哈哈大笑，她直言：「我都係盡量保持，因為每次開工都要不停化妝，又冇得休息，壓力好大，皮膚會出現敏感，所以只可以喺冇嘢做嘅時候盡量做運動。加上飲食清淡啲，食啲營養補充品，同埋迫自己多飲水排毒。」李佳芯認為保持好心情亦很重要，以往一開工拍戲便會全程投入、腦海不停思考角色，導致壓力很大，而從來不打機的李佳芯近來學會打機放鬆、平衡情緒。 李佳芯也分享健康心得。李佳芯又現場獻唱歌曲《終身美麗》，見她表現淡定，唱功大躍進，現場觀眾聽後更紛紛大叫安歌。問到李佳芯最近是否苦練歌藝？李佳芯坦言一直有在唱歌方面下苦功：「我會唱K練習，再要身邊人畀評論，收集唔同意見令自己進步。」李佳芯大方笑稱被網民冠上「魔音」稱號之後，專誠找了唱歌老師指導，「我覺得自己嘅天賦未必係唱歌，咁不如學下，睇吓自己學唔學得識。頭先喺台上感受到最大進步係個人淡定咗好多，因為以前上到台會驚到聲都震。」 李佳芯又現場獻唱歌曲《終身美麗》，見她表現淡定，唱功大躍進。思捷自爆記性差 至於另一嘉賓李思捷，在活動中發揮扮嘢天王本色，完美模仿張國榮，譚詠麟、李克勤等獻唱串燒扮嘢歌，令氣氛High爆！李思捷直言享受在舞台表演，說到健康心得，李思捷認為飲食均衡很重要，「我之前一段時間冇胃口，食得好少，導致營養不良，好彩檢查咗冇事。」另外，李思捷亦會勤力護膚，保持嫩滑肌膚。 李思捷又透露近十多年記性變差，「呢十幾年記性開始麻麻哋，尤其係記歌詞，但好彩唱嘅歌都係八、九十年代，當時我只得十幾歲，係最好記性嘅時候，如果而家先記呢啲歌詞，可能未必記到。」 李思捷在活動中完美模仿張國榮，譚詠麟、李克勤等獻唱串燒扮嘢歌。 View the full article

現正就販毒罪服刑12年的青年，5年前涉與他人策劃在觀塘海濱，於科大學生周梓樂悼念活動後，向警方投擲「特強汽油彈」。他否認1項串謀縱火罪，並辯稱無意參加或製作汽油彈，只為獲得工作機會才附和他人，惟經審訊後被裁定串謀縱火罪成。區域法院暫委法官蘇文隆今（19日）判刑時，斥被告心腸歹毒，行動會助長暴徒的氣燄，罪加一等，判囚4年。被告正因販毒案服刑逾12年，法官下令當中2年分期執行，即加監2年。 被告施瀚榮，21歲，被控於2020年3月3日至3月4日期間，在香港與黎明耀串謀無合理辯解而用火摧毀或損壞屬於他人的財產。 被告施瀚榮在區域法院被裁罪成後，加監2年。(黃浩謙攝)擬用壓縮燃氣製特強汽油彈暫委法官蘇文隆判刑以4年為量刑起點，指案件有多項加刑因素，斥被告心腸歹毒，擬用壓縮燃氣製作爆炸力更強的「特強汽油彈」；案發時社會經歷約1年的暴動，二人計劃的行動助長暴徒的氣燄，延續連綿不斷的暴動，罪加一等。 被告負責招兵買馬蘇官又指，被告身為策劃人，負責招兵買馬，亦深究行動細節，將目標地點由「將軍澳尚十」轉到人流更多的觀塘海濱，以造成更大傷害，狠批被告為狂徒，考慮到以上種種加刑至6年。 犯案時未滿16歲此外，蘇官考慮到被告當年未滿16歲，案例指出屬例外因素，應寬大處理，行動未有落實，無警員受傷，以及被告自願提供手機密碼，減刑2年，最終刑期為4年。蘇官續指，被告在2023年販毒罪成被判監12年10個月，基於刑期整體性將2年分期執行，換言之加監2年。 案件編號：DCCC 927/2023 兩「12港人」上訴獲減刑　控方未安排兩案同處理　下調屬公道做法跑馬地警署被擲汽油彈　4男縱火罪囚41-63月　母弟助毀證據囚半年12港人鄧棨然涉藏汽油彈和潛逃　遭判囚46個月女侍應涉擲汽油彈罪成　指原審官審訊時如加入格鬥場　裁上訴得直10.1灣仔衝突｜有人在油站旁擲汽油彈　兩中年暴動罪成囚49及54月 View the full article

Mounting evidence shows that gas stoves — used in nearly 40% of U.S. homes — pose serious health risks. Now, Coloradans have a new tool to learn about the dangers of cooking with little blue flames. Gas stoves sold in the state will need a yellow health-warning label under a first-in-the-nation law that went into effect earlier this month. “It's fair to warn people, especially if they have health impacts from [poor] air quality, to know what they're buying in advance,” said state Sen. Cathy Kipp, a Democrat who cosponsored the legislation. Like other gas-burning appliances and gasoline-burning cars, gas ranges spew noxious compounds such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. Even off, they emit benzene, a potent carcinogen found in secondhand cigarette smoke; breathing in the fumes from gas ranges increases the risk of cancer, especially in kids. Children in homes with gas stoves are also estimated to be 42% more likely to develop asthma. “We know that this information has not been reaching the public at the point of sale,” said Kirsten Schatz, public advocate at the nonprofit CoPIRG Foundation. Since the 1970s, fossil-fuel companies have cited industry-backed research and hired scientists to discount evidence that gas stoves cause harm, according to an investigation by NPR. In 2024, the U.S. gas-stove market was estimated at $3.8 billion. In a 2022 survey of retail stores in 10 states, public advocacy group U.S. PIRG, affiliated with CoPIRG, found that most salespeople said they were unaware of the health risks of gas stoves. Manufacturers have thrown up a hurdle to the new rules; they've asked the federal district court in Colorado to freeze the law’s enforcement. Violators would normally face an up to $20,000 fine, but on Wednesday, the state’s attorney general agreed not to enforce the rules until the court reaches a decision, according to Abe Scarr, energy and utilities program director at PIRG. Though Colorado is the first state to mandate warning labels, Massachusetts and New York could be next. Last year, proposals in Illinois and California both failed, though the Golden State got close; ultimately, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) vetoed the bill. Colorado’s new requirements follow other policies — from building ordinances to performance standards to air-quality regulations — adopted at state and municipal levels to rein in the sale of gas equipment. More than 70 local governments are ensuring gas appliances aren’t installed in most new buildings by requiring new construction to be all-electric. In July, New York became the first state to codify such rules. Under Colorado’s law, gas-stove warning labels need to bear the phrase, “Understand the air quality implications of having an indoor gas stove.” The stickers will have a URL link or QR code that directs curious consumers to a state webpage. Colorado requires that the site, created and maintained by its Department of Public Health and Environment, provides “credible, evidence-based information on the health impacts of gas-fueled stoves.” The warnings only need to be displayed on floor models or the website on which they’re being sold, Kipp said. “We made it really simple for manufacturers to comply,” she added, but still, “they just don't want to do it.” In a federal lawsuit filed Aug. 5, the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers alleges that Colorado is compelling its members to endorse a warning label that directs consumers to “non-consensus, scientifically controversial, and factually misleading” information. In doing so, the industry group continues, the state is violating its members’ First Amendment rights “to be free from ... unconstitutional compelled speech.” “The lawsuit is frivolous,” Kipp said. “It's well within the authority of our Colorado legislature to pass laws that implement consumer protections.” While appliance makers are portraying the science as unsettled, “that’s not true,” Kipp said. Several nonpartisan nonprofit organizations recognize the large body of peer-reviewed research on gas-stove pollution and have voiced support for warning labels, Schatz said, including the American Public Health Association, American Lung Association, American Medical Association, and American Thoracic Society. The parties to the lawsuit are asking for a hearing to be scheduled in early November, Scarr said. They’ve also agreed to a deposition — sworn testimony outside the courtroom — of any witness whom appliance manufacturers rely on to make their case. "This litigation is set to become a battle of the experts regarding the health impacts of gas stoves,” Scarr said. “Given the science, we're confident the state can win." View the full article

Texas state representative Nicole Collier speaks during a House Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C., on July 29, 2021. Credit - Stefani Reynolds—Bloomberg/Getty Images Rep. Nicole Collier, a Democrat representing Fort Worth, claims that she’s been unlawfully locked in the Texas House chambers, where she remained overnight Monday and may stay for days until the issue is resolved. Collier was one of dozens of Democrats who fled the state earlier this month to break quorum in an effort to block a vote on a contentious redistricting plan backed by President Donald Trump that would favor Republican candidates in the 2026 midterm elections. Some of the representatives returned on Monday for the start of a second special session but GOP Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows is requiring that they be escorted by state troopers when leaving the House chamber to prevent another walkout. Collier, however, said she would not agree to such monitoring. “I refuse to sign away my dignity as a duly elected representative just so Republicans can control my movements and monitor me with police escorts,” Collier said in a statement to media outlets. “My constituents sent me to Austin to protect their voices and rights,” she said. “When I press that button to vote, I know these maps will harm my constituents—I won’t just go along quietly with their intimidation or their discrimination.” Proposed Texas maps kicked off interstate redistricting fightTexas GOP leaders have criticized the Democrats that fled for having “abandoned their duties.” Earlier this month, Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit to remove 13 representatives from office over their continued absence on Aug. 8, while Gov. Greg Abbott requested that the Texas Supreme Court vacate the seat of House Democratic leader Gene Wu. Litigation is ongoing, although it’s not clear how the members’ return will affect the suits. Even so, the passage of the redistricting plan is all but guaranteed. The Texas Senate redistricting committee approved the maps on Sunday, and the Republican-majority upper chamber could vote on the plan as soon as this Wednesday. “We knew that this was something we were not going to be able to stop,” Rep. Ramon Romero, one of the Democrats who fled, told the Fort Worth Report. “We could slow it down, though, and that’s exactly what we did.” Texas Republicans were energized by the Democrats’ return. “Representatives come and go. Issues rise and fall. But this body has endured wars, economic depressions and quorum breaks dating back to the very first session,” Burrows said at Monday’s session. “We are done waiting. We have a quorum. Now is the time for action.” Trump posted on Truth Social, “Please pass this Map, ASAP.” Trump had earlier threatened to involve Federal Bureau of Investigations officers in bringing back the representatives. The Democrats’ return to the state comes after California launched its own redistricting plan that would counter the Texas Republicans’ efforts. Several more states—Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New York, and Ohio—have also entered redistricting battles. Redistricting typically happens once every 10 years, after the U.S. census, which was last conducted in 2020. But Trump and his allies began lobbying for Republican states to redraw their congressional lines sooner, in order to gain an advantage in next year’s midterms. “Now that the nation is involved in this fight, some Texas Democrats are coming back to fight these racist maps in the legislature and then in the courts,” Texas Democratic Party Chairman Kendall Scudder said in a statement Monday. “Texans can see that the Republicans would rather serve Trump than serve the interests of Texans.” Wu told the Houston Chronicle that the Democrats will challenge the legality of the maps. Many Democrats, though, did not return on Monday. “Even if California and New York redistrict and successfully get rid of Republicans, that doesn’t help my district,” Rep. Jolanda Jones, who did not return to Texas, told the New York Times. “We will lose one Black seat in Houston and one Black seat in Dallas. That’s unacceptable.” Collier alleges “illegal confinement”Collier told CBS that she could go to her office with a police escort and with Department of Public Safety officers stationed outside or she could remain inside the chamber. She told the Fort Worth Report that she does not know how long she will be there for. Collier has filed a habeas corpus petition to a Travis County court alleging her “illegal confinement.” Another Democratic representative, Ann Johnson, signed the permission slip but remained with Collier for some time after objecting to being followed by an officer. Johnson eventually left the chamber. “This is another exercise of authority and power over people of color, over people who resist,” said Collier, who is the former chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus. “This exercise, this requirement that we be trailed by DPS officers who could be out there fighting crime is not only a waste of taxpayer dollars, but is also offensive to the dignity of each one of us who has been elected by our constituents to come here and fight.” Collier’s attention-grabbing move has been applauded by Democrats across the state and country. “As a former Texas State Rep, let me be clear: LOCKING Rep. Nicole Collier inside the chamber is beyond outrageous,” U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D, Texas) posted on X. “Forcing elected officials to sign ‘permission slips’ and take police escorts to leave? That’s not procedure. That’s some old Jim Crow playbook.” Democratic state senator Roland Gutierrez, who visited Collier in the chamber, posted a video of a group of supporters gathered inside the Texas Capitol building that was chanting, “Let her out.” Contact us at [email protected]. View the full article

MOGADISHU (Reuters) -Diphtheria cases and deaths have risen sharply this year in Somalia, where the response has been curtailed by vaccine shortages and U.S. aid cuts, Somali officials said. More than 1,600 cases, including 87 deaths, have been recorded, up from 838 cases and 56 deaths in all of 2024, said Hussein Abdukar Muhidin, the general director of Somalia's National Institute of Health. Diphtheria, a bacterial disease that causes swollen glands, breathing problems and fever and mostly affects children, is preventable with a vaccine that became widely available in the mid-20th century. Childhood immunisation rates in Somalia have improved over the past decade, but hundreds of thousands of children are still not fully vaccinated. After fleeing fighting between government forces and Islamist militants in the central Somalia town of Ceeldheere three months ago, all four of Deka Mohamed Ali's children, none of whom was vaccinated, contracted diphtheria. Her 9-year-old daughter recovered, but her 8-year-old son died and two toddlers are now being treated at a hospital in the capital Mogadishu. "My children got sick and I just stayed at home because I did not know it was diphtheria," she told Reuters from the bedside of her 3-year-old son Musa Abdullahi whose throat was swollen to the size of a lemon from the infection. Health Minister Ali Haji Adam said the government had struggled to procure enough vaccines due to a global shortage and that U.S. aid cuts were making it difficult to distribute the doses it had. Before President Donald Trump cut most foreign assistance earlier this year, the United States was the leading humanitarian donor to Somalia, whose health budget is almost entirely funded by donors. "The U.S. aid cut terribly affected the health funds it used to provide to Somalia. Many health centres closed. Mobile vaccination teams that took vaccines to remote areas lost funding and now do not work," said Adam. Muhidin separately echoed his comments about the closures. Overall U.S. foreign assistance commitments to Somalia stand at $149 million for the fiscal year that ends on September 30, compared with $765 million in the previous fiscal year, according to U.S. government statistics. "The United States continues to provide lifesaving foreign assistance in Somalia," a U.S. State Department spokesperson said when asked about the impact of its aid cuts in the country. "America is the most generous nation in the world, and we urge other nations to dramatically increase their humanitarian efforts." Aid group Save the Children said last month that the closure of hundreds of health clinics in Somalia this year due to foreign cuts has contributed to a doubling in the number of combined cases of diphtheria, measles, whooping cough, cholera and severe respiratory infections since mid-April. Besides the U.S., Britain, France, Germany and other major Western donors are also cutting aid budgets. Somalia's government has also faced criticism from doctors and human rights activists for its limited funding of the health sector. In 2024, it allocated 4.8% of its budget to health, down from 8.5% the previous year, Amnesty International said. The health ministry did not respond to a question about that criticism. It has said it is planning to launch a vaccination drive but has not given details when. (Reporting by Abdi Sheikh; Writing by Aaron Ross; Editing by Alison Williams) View the full article

　電子決済を手がけるベンチャー「JPYC」（東京）は19日、法定通貨に連動して価値を安定させるデジタルマネー「ステーブルコイン」を円建てで発行する方針を明らかにした。発行すれば、国内初となる見通し。発行するコインは日本円と1対1で交換可能で、今秋のサービス開始を目指している。岡部典孝代表取締役が都内で記者会見した。 　JPYCはすでに、発行に必要な金融庁への資金移動業者登録を済ませた。 　ステーブルコインは、代表的な暗号資産（仮想通貨）などと同じブロックチェーンという先端の暗号技術を使っており、データの改ざんがされにくいといった利点がある。一方で法定通貨を裏付けにしない仮想通貨のビットコインなどと比べて価格が安定しているため、安心して送金や決済に利用しやすいという特徴がある。 Advertisement 　ステーブルコインはドル建てが主流だが、JPYCは円建てにも決済ニーズがあると判断し、発行方針を決めた。岡部氏は「世界では広がっているが、日本はほぼゼロ。スタートアップとしてチャンスと捉え挑んでいく」と述べた。（共同） View the full article

【日大三－関東一】四回表日大三1死一、三塁、代打・豊泉が適時打を放つ＝阪神甲子園球場で2025年8月19日、前田梨里子撮影 高校野球・夏の甲子園準々決勝（19日） ○日大三（西東京）5―3関東一（東東京）● 　思い切った早い仕掛けに観客だけでなく、グラウンド上の選手たちも驚いた。両チーム無得点の四回1死一、三塁。日大三の三木有造監督は5番打者に代打を送った。 　中軸に代わって登場したのが今夏、西東京大会を含めて初打席の背番号19、豊泉悠斗（3年）だった。 　この回の攻撃前に代打起用を告げられていた右打者の心身の準備はできていた。狙い球を緩いカーブに絞って5球目。甘めにきた114キロをしっかり引きつけ、左前に運んだ。 Advertisement 　貴重な先制点にも塁上では表情を崩さず、ボールから目を離さないというチームの決め事を貫いた。「全然実感がわかなくて『あっ先制点なんだ』って思いました。でも、怖さはなくて打てる自信はあった」と目の前のプレーに無我夢中だった。 　なぜ、日大三ベンチは早めに動いたのか。その背景には豊泉の特殊能力と試合前に描いた筋書きがある。「打撃練習で1球目を芯に当てる。その後は当たらない時もあるが、一振り目の集中力がすごい。ここ一番で絶対にいきたいと思っていた」と三木監督は明かす。前日の練習でも快音を連発しており、関東一のエース左腕の坂本慎太郎に対し、要所でぶつけるべく戦略を練っていた。 【日大三－関東一】四回表日大三2死二、三塁、安部が2点適時打を放つ＝阪神甲子園球場で2025年8月19日、玉城達郎撮影 　さらに、相手は試合巧者の関東一。安定した守りを軸に接戦に強さを見せる。伝統的に打線が自慢の日大三としてはロースコアよりも、点を取り合う展開が理想的だ。この回、豊泉らを生還させる2点適時打で続いた安部翔夢（とむ）も「打ち切って、最後は守る。相手は良い投手がそろっているので打ち勝つしかないと思っていた」と語った。 　甲子園で15年ぶりに実現した東京対決。首都でしのぎを削る両雄による一戦は計19安打が飛び交った。「強打の三高」に分があった。【長宗拓弥】 View the full article

Tấm vé tham dự giải vô địch thế giới của tuyển bóng chuyền nữ Việt Nam có công rất lớn của Bích Tuyền. Trong mỗi lần khoác áo ĐTQG, đối chuyền sinh năm 2000 đều là người ghi nhiều điểm nhất. Ở trận chung kết gặp Thái Lan tại chặng 2 SEA V-League 2025, tay đập 25 tuổi thậm chí còn ghi tới 45 điểm, giúp tuyển bóng chuyền nữ Việt Nam lần đầu tiên trong lịch sử đánh bại đối thủ xứ Chùa vàng. Với vai trò và tầm ảnh hưởng rất lớn cả về chuyên môn lẫn tinh thần, việc Bích Tuyền tuyên bố rút lui không tham dự giải vô địch thế giới khiến các thành viên tuyển bóng chuyền nữ Việt Nam bị sốc. Bích Tuyền là tay đập chủ lực của tuyển bóng chuyền nữ Việt Nam. Ảnh: S.N HLV Nguyễn Tuấn Kiệt cho biết trong sáng 19/8 Bích Tuyền nộp đơn xin chia tay đội cũng như không tham dự giải thế giới. Ông Kiệt rất bất ngờ, nhưng cũng tôn trọng quyết định của VĐV này, sau đó có báo cáo với Liên đoàn bóng chuyền nữ Việt Nam. Trước đó, HLV Nguyễn Tuấn Kiệt đã chốt danh sách tuyển bóng chuyền nữ Việt Nam với 14 VĐV, trong đó có Bích Tuyền. Việc đối chuyền CLB Ninh Bình rút lui khiến đội chỉ còn 13 VĐV (chỉ có thể bổ sung Libero). Đây là một thiệt thòi với tuyển bóng chuyền nữ Việt Nam trong lần đầu tham dự sân chơi lớn như giải vô địch thế giới. Ở đội tuyển hiện tại, Hoàng Kiều Trinh là VĐV chơi sở trường ở vị trí đối chuyền, sẽ là người thay Bích Tuyền trong đội hình chính. Tuy nhiên, VĐV người Quảng Bình khó có thể gánh nhiệm vụ ghi điểm cho đoàn quân HLV Nguyễn Tuấn Kiệt. HLV Nguyễn Tuấn Kiệt bất ngờ trước sự rút lui của Bích Tuyền. Ảnh: S.N Trước đây, trong một số giải Bích Tuyền không thi đấu, HLV Tuấn Kiệt xây dựng các phương án tấn công xoay quanh Trần Thị Thanh Thúy. Lần này, "4T" sẽ phải thi đấu với 200% sức lực khi không có Bích Tuyền sát cánh. Ngoài ra, HLV Tuấn Kiệt cũng tiếp tục đặt niềm tin vào những Vi Thị Như Quỳnh, Bích Thủy, hay kinh nghiệm của Lê Thanh Thúy, Nguyễn Thị Trinh. Chiến lược gia sinh năm 1976 khẳng định: "Tôi xây dựng đội tuyển dựa vào lối chơi tập thể, nên kế hoạch chuẩn bị cho giải vô địch thế giới không bị ảnh hưởng". Danh sách đội tuyển bóng chuyền nữ Việt Nam: Chủ công: Trần Thị Thanh Thúy (C), Vi Thị Như Quỳnh, Nguyễn Thị Uyên, Nguyễn Thị Phương. Phụ công: Nguyễn Thị Trinh, Trần Thị Bích Thủy, Lê Thanh Thúy, Phạm Thị Hiền. Đối chuyền: Hoàng Thị Kiều Trinh. Chuyền hai: Đoàn Thị Lâm Oanh, Võ Thị Kim Thoa. Libero: Nguyễn Khánh Đang, Nguyễn Thị Ninh Anh. Bích Tuyền rút lui khỏi giải bóng chuyền vô địch thế giới Đối chuyền Nguyễn Bích Tuyền không cùng tuyền bóng chuyền nữ Việt Nam tham dự giải vô địch thế giới tổ chức tại Thái Lan trong ít ngày tới. Tuyển bóng chuyền nữ Việt Nam vs Kenya: Tổng duyệt và... giấu bài! Tuyển bóng chuyền nữ Việt Nam có trận đấu rất được chờ đợi với Kenya lúc 19h ngày 19/8, trước khi lên đường sang Thái Lan dự giải vô địch thế giới 2025. U21 Việt Nam về nước, chưa rõ án phạt của Đặng Thị Hồng Chiều 18/8, Đặng Thị Hồng cùng các thành viên U21 Việt Nam về tới Hà Nội, khép lại hành trình tại giải bóng chuyền U21 vô địch thế giới 2025. View the full article

Theo hãng tin Zvezda, Bộ Quốc phòng Nga ngày 18/8 đã công bố đoạn video ghi lại cảnh quân đội nước này dùng UAV để bắn cháy 2 xe tăng Leopard của Ukraine ở mặt trận Kharkiv. "Các UAV trinh sát đã phát hiện 2 xe tăng Leopard được Ukraine ngụy trang trong các rừng cây ở tiền tuyến. Tọa độ sau đó nhanh chóng được gửi về trung tâm chỉ huy và đòn tấn công chính xác từ các UAV cảm tử đã phá hủy 2 phương tiện này. UAV trinh sát cũng đã bay lại gần mục tiêu, xác nhận chúng đã phát nổ và bốc cháy dữ dội", phía Nga cho biết. Ukraine đã nhận được nhiều xe tăng Leopard 1 và Leopard 2 từ các quốc gia NATO như một phần hỗ trợ quân sự nhằm đối phó với các lực lượng Nga. Tuy nhiên, các dòng xe này đã trở thành mục tiêu dễ bị tổn thương trước sự tấn công của UAV cảm tử. Theo báo cáo của trang theo dõi quân sự Oryx, tính từ đầu cuộc xung đột, Ukraine đã tổn thất tổng cộng 19 xe tăng Leopard 1A5, 27 xe tăng Leopard 2A4 và 13 xe tăng Leopard 2A6. Trong số này, xe tăng Leopard 2A6 là hiện đại nhất, nhưng cũng đắt đỏ nhất khi có giá lên tới 10 triệu USD/chiếc. Video FPV cảm tử Nga phá hủy xe tăng Leopard của Ukraine ở mặt trận Donetsk Quân đội Nga tuyên bố, các binh sĩ thuộc Trung tâm Thử nghiệm Rubikon đã sử dụng máy bay không người lái góc nhìn thứ nhất (FPV) để vô hiệu hóa xe tăng Leopard 1A5 của Ukraine. Video UAV Nga dồn dập tấn công xe tăng Leopard của Ukraine trên tiền tuyến Nga huy động nhiều máy bay không người lái (UAV) để tập kích xe tăng Leopard cùng binh sĩ Ukraine trên tiền tuyến. Video UAV cảm tử Nga tập kích xe tăng Leopard của Ukraine tại Donetsk Quân đội Nga đã sử dụng máy bay không người lái (UAV) cảm tử để tập kích một đoàn xe bọc thép của Ukraine, bao gồm 2 xe tăng Leopard 2. View the full article

路透社引述兩位知情人士報道，英偉達正基於其最新的Blackwell架構，為中國開發一款新人工智能晶片，性能優於目前允許在華銷售的H20。 美國總統特朗普（Donald Trump）上周暗示，放寬英偉達向中國出口下一代AI晶片。但知情人士指出，考慮到華盛頓對中國獲取美國人工智能技術的高度戒備，美國的監管批准仍存在極大不確定性。 路透社報道稱，這款暫定名為B30A的新晶片將採用單晶片設計，其計算力大約相當於英偉達旗艦B300加速卡雙晶片架構的一半。單晶片設計，即所有核心電路集成在同一片硅晶圓上，而非分散在多個晶片上。 2025年4月19日，中國河南，圖為在鄭州展出的一塊來自英偉達的H20晶片。（Getty）新晶片將配備高帶寬內存和英偉達的關鍵NVLink技術，用於實現處理器之間的高速數據傳輸，這些特性也出現在基於Hopper架構的H20晶片中。儘管具體規格尚未最終敲定，但英偉達希望最早下月向中國客戶提供樣品進行測試。 儘管美國政府已經放寬英偉達向中國出口特定範圍的晶片，但中國官方卻以不安全為由，督促本土企業避免使用美國人工智能晶片巨頭英偉達的H20晶片，特別是在涉及政府部門的應用場景。中國官媒也批英偉達H20晶片不安全不先進不環保。 2025年7月10日，黃仁勳（左二）在白宮會見美國總統特朗普及其他美國官員（IG@howardlutnick）分析認為，北京並非要真的封殺英偉達，只是借安全之名向華盛頓施壓，爭取更多談判籌碼，即便H20晶片是降級版，性價比還是優於中國晶片當前水平，中國企業在一定程度上仍依賴它。 本文獲《聯合早報》授權轉載。 Nvidia英偉達捲安全漏洞疑雲　彭博：北京敦促華企勿用H20晶片一文看懂英偉達15%銷售分成：特朗普販賣出口管制的邏輯美國政府積壓大量商品及技術出口許可申請　影響英偉達等訂單 View the full article

菲律賓、澳洲和加拿大海軍周二（19日）在南海進行聯合航行。 根據路透社，菲律賓軍方官員稱，這次攻擊不針對任何國家，菲律賓護衛艦「BRP Jose Rizal號」、澳洲驅逐艦「HMAS Brisbane號」和加拿大謢衛艦「HMCSVille de Quebec號」參與了這次的行動。 圖為菲律賓護衛艦「BRP Jose Rizal號」。（X@Drethegrater）上校Dennis Fernandez會見記者時稱：「我們活動的前提是，演習立足於自由開放的印度洋-太平洋地區，以及當地的和平與繁榮。」 報道指，這項聯合航行活動周日在菲律賓西部的東民都洛省附近海域開始，將在巴拉望島結束，是菲律賓和澳洲正在進行的「ALON」軍事演習的一部份。「ALON」聯合演習上周五展開，為期15天。 印菲海軍結束首次南海聯合巡航　中方批破壞區域和平及穩定中國斥美國就南海問題無端指責　挑撥離間損害地區國家互信日本南海海槽地震觀測系統故障　緊急警報或延誤最多12秒菲律賓就南海仲裁案9周年發聲明　中國：「裁決」是一張廢紙 View the full article

政府統計處今日（19日）發表今年5月至7月的最新勞動人口統計數字，經季節性調整的失業率為3.7%，較上一個周期升0.2個百分點，為2022年11月以來新高。失業人數亦由4月至6月的136,200人升至145,000人，增加約8,800人，同期就業不足人數增加約2,600人。 政府統計處8月19日公布最新失業率為3.7%，較上一個周期升0.2個百分點。（資料圖片／黃浩謙攝）政府統計處指，與今年4月至6月比較，5月至7月期間許多主要經濟行業的失業率均見上升，其中地基及上蓋工程業、餐飲服務活動業、零售業，以及地產業有較明顯的升幅。 勞工及福利局局長孫玉菡指，雖然最新失業率較上一個三個月期間輕微上升，但留意到同一時期總就業人數有所增加的正面發展，而失業人數上升部份是因為應屆畢業生和離校人士投入勞動市場所致。 展望未來，孫玉菡指，香港經濟持續增長，應可帶動職位增加，為投入勞工市場的應屆畢業生及離校人士創造更多就業機會。孫玉菡指，雖然各行業的失業率仍然將會取決於其經營環境，但政府多項推動經濟增長、提振消費氣氛和吸引投資的措施，預期會為整體勞工需求提供支持。 勞工及福利局局長孫玉菡8月19日指，香港經濟持續增長，應可帶動職位增加，為投入勞工市場的應屆畢業生及離校人士創造更多就業機會。（資料圖片／黃寶瑩攝）建造業：行業失業率惡化　本地私營工程減少所致　籲精準輸入外勞失業率升至3.5%　減薪/裁員「家用」要照畀？4個步驟同父母坦白講黃國倡按行業失業率設外勞「紅線」　孫玉菡：不宜一刀切建造業失業率明顯上升　梁志堅：主因是私人工程減少本港失業率升至3.5%　多6400人失業　建造業等3行業升幅明顯 View the full article

剛剛度過59歲生日的李若彤多年來被譽為「最美小龍女」，近年雖然主攻內地市場，活躍於綜藝節目、劇集拍攝及講座等，因保持一身健美好身材及凍齡美貌，而備受網民關注。近日李若彤接受內地傳媒訪問，提到早前入境泰國時，因其年齡與外貌不相符而差點「惹禍上身」。 李若彤多年來被譽為「最美小龍女」。（小紅書）李若彤擁有健美身材。（小紅書）李若彤堅持做了30年運動。（小紅書）李若彤近日接受內地傳媒訪問時，透露早前入境泰國，海關人員查看她的護照時，發現她的出生年份為1966年，隨即嚴肅質問：「這是你的護照嗎？偷來的嗎？你看起來不像這個年紀啊！」李若彤回憶當時情況，忍不住笑說：「我嚇死了！」 李若彤在片中自爆遊泰遭海關人員質疑用假護照。（小紅書）據知事件發生於今年8月，李若彤的訪問播出後再度引起網民熱議。有大批網民驚訝李若彤的皮膚極為緊緻、健美體態全身零贅肉，樣貌跟年輕時沒有大分別，與真實年齡確實有極大對比，讓網民好奇其凍齡秘訣。李若彤在片中分享保養之道，更透露自己堅持運動已經超過30年，運動不僅能保持好身材，同時亦增強了自信心：「每天進行力量訓練與有氧運動，如啞鈴和核心訓練，讓我的體脂率低且肌肉線條明顯。」 李若彤迎來59歲生日，手捧插上「59」字樣蠟燭的蛋糕，絲毫不忌諱讓大家知道自己的真實年齡！（李若彤IG截圖）有大批網民驚訝李若彤的樣貌跟年輕時沒有大分別。（小紅書）至於談到年齡，李若彤則表示30歲時曾因年長而感到焦慮，擔心自己會變老，但隨著年齡增長，她的心態逐漸改變。去到40歲時才發現時間過得太快：「到50歲時，我的智慧也在增長，感到非常高興。」對於明年迎來60歲，她直言得自己越活越明白，活得越來越自在。 李若彤則表示30歲時曾因年長而感到焦慮。（小紅書）保持健康體魄就是凍齡最佳方法！（小紅書）保持健康體魄就是凍齡最佳方法！（小紅書） View the full article

It’s hard enough to negotiate with an enemy you do not trust. But imagine not being able to trust your most critical ally, either. When President Donald Trump said Monday that he’d offer Ukraine “very good security” as he pushed Kyiv to come to some sort of truce with Russia, many Ukrainians watched knowing that he may not keep his word. Trump is known, after all, for constantly changing his mind, including about how much he admires Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Yet the U.S. remains a crucial source of military and economic aid to Ukraine. So there was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on Monday (in a suit!), hoping to convince Trump to give Kyiv “everything” it needed for its security. He came with other European leaders who urged Trump to keep helping Ukraine, to pursue a ceasefire first and not to fall for dubious Russian long-term peace proposals. As the visitors made their practiced pitches while sitting around a table with the U.S. president, the whole thing felt absurd. Ukrainians obviously cannot trust Putin, a man with a long history of broken promises. But they also cannot trust Trump, another man with a long history of broken promises. Somehow, though, these are the two men pressuring Kyiv to go for a “peace agreement” that could force Ukraine to give up a huge chunk of its territory to an invading Russia. The harsh reality is that Ukrainians have little choice but to consider any offer Trump puts before them. They still need the United States, even if the relationship stinks. “We have to hope for the best knowing everything we know,” Yuriy Sak, a former adviser to Ukraine’s defense ministry, told me. Daria Kaleniuk, a prominent Ukrainian civil society activist, said the best response is to be self-reliant. “The meetings are like a reality show, which will lead to nothing,” she said. Ukrainians already are doing what they can, under intense Russian fire, to turn themselves into an increasingly independent actor in the war. That includes their manufacture and clever use of drones, which has allowed them to strike deep inside Russian territory. Nonetheless, the prevailing sense in many circles is that Ukraine will ultimately lose to Russia. Trump seems to agree, telling Fox News, in one of several recent comments meant to pressure Zelenskyy to make a deal with Putin: “Look, Russia is a very big power, and they’re not.” Ukrainians take care to distinguish between Trump and Putin. The latter, they point out, is a former spy and skilled manipulator responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths. Trump at least seems sincere in wanting to end the war, some told me. But, despite some harsh words for Putin earlier this year, Trump seems once again intent on impressing the Kremlin chief. He rolled out the red carpet when they met in Alaska last week. He also called Putin on Monday, as well as meeting with European leaders. Afterward, he wrote on social media that his team would work with Putin’s to arrange a meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy, to be followed by a trilateral session that also includes Trump. “Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine,” Trump wrote. But Trump’s adoption of Putin’s talking points on Ukraine, including saying Moscow won’t give up the Crimean region, and his on-again, off-again support of the Ukrainian cause, means that, for Kyiv, the diplomatic field is arguably more unpredictable than the battlefield. That said, even if Ukraine doesn’t trust Trump, the bar for diplomatic success has fallen very low these days. Ukrainians are relieved that Trump even talks to Zelenskyy, whose previous Oval Office meeting with the U.S. president in February was a disaster. Zelenskyy on Monday was more cautious in front of the cameras. Other Europeans, meanwhile, delight over any sliver of hope Trump offers. They were happy that Trump, in last week’s meeting with Putin, didn’t flat-out agree to give away Ukrainian territory, even though he seems to have aligned himself with that Kremlin position. Trump’s mere openness to a security guarantee for Ukraine is viewed as a huge win. “The fact that you have said ‘I’m willing to participate in security guarantees’ is a big step,” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told Trump on Monday. “It’s really a breakthrough. And it makes all the difference.” Some Ukrainians hope that the ultimate result of the gatherings is to serve as a wake-up call to other European nations, leading them to take a bigger role in helping Kyiv. That includes handing over billions in frozen Russian assets to Kyiv. Europe as a whole also needs to put its economy on more of a war footing and be less dependent on Washington for the continent’s security, Kaleniuk argued. “It's not about war in Ukraine, it's about war in Europe, and Russia is the largest security threat to every single European country,” she told me. Many U.S. presidents have broken promises before, of course. But Trump is unusual in how often and sometimes how quickly he reverses course. Foreign officials say it makes it hard for their countries to prepare strategies for dealing with Washington. Hanna Hopko, a former Ukrainian lawmaker who travels the world arguing her country’s case, warned that Trump’s inconsistency in backing Ukraine has wide fallout. “I'm laughing, honestly laughing,” she said when I asked about how Ukrainians could trust Trump’s promises. “It's about American credibility. It's not about Trump. You guys are losing credibility worldwide.” View the full article

Rachel Maddow looks at how readily Donald Trump abandoned his negotiating positions in his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and compares the effusive, adulatory greeting Trump gave Putin, to the considerably less enthusiastic greeting actual U.S. allies from Europe were met with. Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia speculates that the Alaska meeting may have been the most disastrous in U.S. history. View the full article

Federal immigration officers helped by Rochester, N.Y., police arrest men from Guatemala after a March traffic stop. The Trump administration has threatened the city over its sanctuary policies. City officials say some officers violated the policy by assisting in the arrests. (Photo courtesy of City of Rochester) The Trump administration is once again pressuring liberal cities and states to cooperate with deportation efforts, despite previous setbacks in court. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent letters last week telling sanctuary states, cities and counties that “you better be abiding by our federal policies and with our federal law enforcement, because if you aren’t, we’re going to come after you,” she said in a Fox News interview. She demanded the areas answer her by Tuesday. Cities and states with so-called sanctuary policies generally refuse to assist with immigration raids or accede to requests for local jails to hold prisoners for deportation. Those that responded to Stateline’s questions about the letters said they were not inclined to change their positions about cooperation with immigration authorities. “It’s the tactic of a bully. And the only way to deal with a bully is to let them know that they’re not going to intimidate you,” Rhode Island Democratic Attorney General Peter Neronha said in a statement. The Trump administration is attempting to force more cooperation with immigration arrests. But it suffered a serious court reversal on July 25, when a federal judge dismissed a sanctuary policies case against Illinois, Chicago and Cook County. The state and local policies reflect a “decision to not participate in enforcing civil immigration law — a decision protected by the Tenth Amendment,” Judge Lindsay Jenkins wrote in an order now under appeal. Bondi’s letters follow the Justice Department’s Aug. 5 release of a list of sanctuary jurisdictions including 12 states, the District of Columbia, four counties and 18 cities. That’s fewer jurisdictions than the 14 states and almost 500 counties and cities that appeared on an earlier list, which the agency withdrew after criticism that it included conservative counties that were fully cooperating with immigration enforcement. The states on the new list are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington state. The list also includes some counties and cities in those states as well as in Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New Mexico. It's the tactic of a bully. And the only way to deal with a bully is to let them know that they're not going to intimidate you. – Rhode Island Democratic Attorney General Peter Neronha Other federal courts have issued injunctions to at least temporarily stop Trump administration from withholding unrelated federal funding from governments that don’t cooperate on immigration. Cities, counties and states have filed lawsuits challenging Trump’s executive orders targeting sanctuary policies, including a February order that federal payments to states and localities must not “by design or effect, facilitate the subsidization or promotion of illegal immigration, or abet so-called ‘sanctuary’ policies that seek to shield illegal aliens from deportation.” “The executive orders are directing agencies to basically take a maximalist approach to putting pressure on local governments to cooperate with immigration [enforcement], even though they’re not required to do so by federal law,” said Jonathan Miller, one of the attorneys working on the California case for the Public Rights Project, a California-based group promoting civil rights protections for states and cities. One city on the administration’s list was Rochester, New York, which disciplined some police officers for helping federal agents make a March arrest in the city. The city already faces a lawsuit brought by the Trump administration that prominently mentions the arrest of three men from Guatemala; one of whom has since pleaded guilty to re-entering the United States after a previous deportation. States, sheriffs puzzle over Trump’s error-filled list of immigration sanctuaries A spokesperson for the city, Barbara Pierce, said in a statement to The Guardian that, “Nothing in Attorney General Bondi’s letter is new and none of it has legal merit.” “The letter reiterates many of the frivolous arguments that the federal government has already made in its pending suit against the city of Rochester,” she added. “These same arguments were levied against the city of Chicago and were dismissed by the federal district court for the eastern district of Illinois nearly a month ago.” Ally Sullivan, a spokesperson for Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, said in a statement that Colorado “is not a sanctuary state. The Governor continues to be frustrated by this mistaken and incorrect label.” In a televised interview earlier this year, Polis pointed out that Colorado fully cooperates with federal authorities on criminal matters. Immigration, he said, is a civil matter. “In Colorado, we are improving public safety, apprehending dangerous criminals, cooperating with federal law enforcement on criminal investigations, and keeping our communities safe,” Sullivan said. Nevertheless, Colorado faces a federal lawsuit brought by the administration over its alleged sanctuary policies. Polis signed a measure in May that limits local law enforcement’s communication with federal immigration authorities and restricts where federal authorities can operate within schools, child care facilities, hospitals and libraries without a judicial warrant. ICE has a new courthouse tactic: Get immigrants’ cases tossed, then arrest them outside Connecticut Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont in a statement said the state’s Trust Act, which the Trump administration has targeted as a sanctuary policy, was passed with bipartisan support and helps ensure local police concentrate on serious crimes. The Trust Act, passed in 2013 and expanded in 2019, limits information sharing and compliance with requests to detain immigrants for federal immigration authorities. “Nothing about this makes Connecticut a sanctuary in any legal or practical sense — it makes our state one that upholds the Constitution, respects the rule of law, and prioritizes the safety and well-being of our communities,” Lamont said. Stateline reporter Tim Henderson can be reached at [email protected]. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE View the full article

A Maine reserve police officer arrested by ICE for allegedly trying to buy a firearm illegally has agreed to leave the country, the agency said. Jon Luke Evans, a reserve officer with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department, and a Jamaican national, was arrested on July 25 with help from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), according to ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Evans was taken into custody after a firearm purchase attempt raised concerns tied to his immigration status. Illegal Immigrant Caught Working As Police Officer In Maine While Attempting To Buy Firearm A judge has now granted Evans voluntary departure, giving him the ability to leave the U.S. at his own expense rather than face deportation. Reports by federal authorities claim he legally entered the United States through Miami International Airport on Sept. 24, 2023. Evans was reportedly under a visa that required his departure by Oct. 1, 2023, but he failed to leave as required and has been in the U.S. unlawfully since. Read On The Fox News App Man Deported 3 Times Now Convicted After Illegal Us Reentry During Biden Admin ICE officials are now investigating how he was hired by the local police agency and if he was given a department-issued weapon. "This case raises serious concerns," said Patricia H. Hyde, acting field office director for ERO Boston. "We will continue working to ensure that individuals who violate immigration laws and pose potential threats to public safety are held accountable." Maine State Police are responding to the shooting Tuesday in Yarmouth, which has left two injured.Police Chief Elise Chard says they were told by federal officials that Evans was legally permitted to work in the country and that proper documentation was submitted via the Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify program. "The town reiterates its ongoing commitment to meeting all state and federal laws regarding employment," Chard said in a statement. "We will continue to rely on the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form and the E-Verify database to confirm employment eligibility." Original article source: Maine reserve police officer agrees to leave US voluntarily after ICE arrest for immigration violations View the full article

It’s no Route 66. But the roughly 80-mile stretch of U.S. Route 50 that snakes across Virginia from the nation’s capital to the West Virginia border is rich in American history and culture. The mostly two-lane, winding mountain road features vineyards, battlefields, high-end resorts, and more. And just like the iconic route from Chicago to California, U.S. 50 is increasingly making way for the future of American road trips: electric vehicles. The tiny town of Middleburg, Virginia, is a case in point: Officials there installed a fast charger nearly 18 months ago to serve EV drivers in the wealthy, bucolic region just 45 miles west of Washington, D.C. Named for its equidistance between Alexandria and Winchester, Middleburg has long been at the center of foxhunting and steeplechases. These days, the town of less than 1,000 people is also surrounded by wineries and boasts a film festival, a 168-room five-star resort, and a Christmas parade replete with horses and hound dogs. “Since colonial times it has been a stopping place, and it’s continued to be a place where people come from all over the world, as well as from the greater D.C. area,” said Lynne Kaye, chair of Middleburg’s sustainability committee. As electric vehicles have become more prevalent, so too has “EV tourism”: towns off the beaten path seeking to lure travelers with charging infrastructure. While visitors juice up — often for free at relatively slow Level 2 chargers – they might browse local art galleries and shops, grab some dinner, or visit another attraction they may have otherwise missed. But Middleburg is part of Loudoun County, the nation’s richest, with some of the most robust EV adoption numbers in Virginia. The town has ample attractions, so the idea to install a charger was less about drawing in new visitors than it was about keeping those already passing through happy. “When we walked around town, we were noticing a bunch of EVs,” said Kaye. “We wanted to make sure that we didn't accidentally become unappealing to people who were driving them.” Reducing the town’s climate footprint was also a consideration. Kaye and others reason that cars driven by visitors and residents are the leading contributor to its planet-warming emissions. “We only have 673 residents. We can only create so much carbon,” she said. “But when you have 20,000 people come to an event, that’s a lot of carbon all at once.” When town leaders were in the planning stages of adding their charger, they also noticed a lack of devices in the region that could fill up a car battery in an hour or less. “Not everybody wants to spend however many hours getting their EV charged,” Kaye said. For all these reasons, the decision to install a fast charger in the heart of town was an easy one. But bringing that choice to fruition wasn’t as simple. An expansive bay with 10 or more chargers, an increasingly common feature at gas stations, wasn’t logistically feasible in the tiny Town Hall parking lot. And most charging companies Middleburg approached wanted to install no fewer than six fast chargers. “Getting this huge bank of chargers didn’t fit a historic town,” Kaye said. “There wasn’t really space for it, and we weren’t sure that we were going to get enough traffic to use the chargers effectively.” XCharge North America came to the rescue. The charger manufacturer was “willing to work with us and come up with a way to have the one charger,” Kaye said. “And it’s been a success.” Initially called Current Electric, the startup had recently been acquired by a European equipment maker. Its business proposition: making fast chargers cheaper by using a 208-volt system rather than the global standard of 480V. While Middleburg had already wired its new Town Hall to accommodate the industry standard, XCharge still leapt at the opportunity to showcase its hardware, said company cofounder Alex Urist. “This was very much a way for us to get early applications in the U.S.,” said Urist, who lives in New York City. “The proximity to D.C. is great as well. Selfishly, I go to D.C. to visit the in-laws frequently enough, so I can always check in on the charger. I like to take them over there and show off that I actually have a job,” he quipped. Typical direct-current fast-charging units can run between $30,000 and $120,000. In Middleburg’s case, XCharge provided its hardware for free while the town covered the installation. The two entities share the revenue from charging sessions, and the company can learn from how the fast charger performs as it explores other markets. “It's not really a charger on a high-throughput area,” Urist said. “But what is interesting about it is, it's kind of dead in the middle of Virginia wine country. It's along this rural corridor where the perceptive availability of chargers is very important.” Between March 2024, when the charger was installed, and February 2025, 181 sessions were logged. Since then, there’s been an uptake, with 268 sessions logged as of May 2025, according to XCharge. “It's a really interesting use case for us to see. How does it help with the local economy? Are they going to also see any ancillary impacts of it beyond just the revenue coming in?” Urist said. Indeed, that’s one of the expectations behind an initiative called Virginia Green Travel, which helps the state’s towns, especially those with carbon-reduction goals, attract environmentally minded tourists, said Alleyn Harned, executive director of Virginia Clean Cities. “Electric vehicle chargers have been part of green tourism in Virginia,” said Harned, whose group is among the backers of the Green Travel initiative. Virginia Clean Cities, a U.S. Department of Energy-funded entity that’s based at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, is what brought Middleburg and XCharge together. The town’s success with its fast charger was a bright spot for the organization after President Donald Trump stalled the rollout of $5 billion for charging infrastructure launched under his predecessor. “This is a positive story in getting something done,” Harned said, “because this stuff really improves our economy.” As the Trump administration moves toward releasing National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure funds after losses in court, more towns across Virginia may have the chance to follow Middleburg's lead. Kaye says they should know that fast charging is possible for them. “I think it's important for other small towns to realize that there is an opportunity, if they want to take it,” she said. View the full article

More than 100 people remain missing in northern Pakistan after flash floods have killed at least 360 across the country and Pakistan-administered Kashmir since Friday. Most of the victims have been in the mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the northwest, where entire villages have been swept away as swollen rivers, mudslides and collapsing homes left families buried beneath debris. Authorities have warned of more deluges and possible landslides and urged local administrations to remain on alert. INTERACTIVE-More than 300 people killed in flash floods-Pakistan-August 19, 2025 copy-1755583906Floods in Buner kill more than 200 peopleIn Buner, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa about 100km (62 miles) northwest of the capital, Islamabad, at least 207 people have been killed over two days as floods and landslides swept through villages and destroyed homes. Members of the Urban Search and Rescue team search for bodies in the debris of damaged houses after a storm caused heavy rains and flooding in Bayshonai Kalay, Buner district, on August 17, 2025 [Akhtar Soomro/Reuters]Buner is predominantly hilly with steep slopes that feed into narrow valleys. The district’s loose, erosion-prone soil coupled with deforestation makes it vulnerable to landslides and flash floods. Satellite images of Buner show mountains and surrounding villages, including the town of Pir Baba, engulfed in mud and debris after the floods. What is a cloudburst?Officials said Buner was hit by a cloudburst, a rare phenomenon in which more than 100mm (4 inches) of rain falls within an hour in a small area. In Buner, there was more than 150mm (6 inches) of rain within an hour on Friday morning. Cloudbursts typically occur in mountainous regions during the monsoon season when weather conditions can produce sudden, localised downpours leading to landslides. Cloudbursts tend to occur over a small area of 20 to 30sq km (7.7 to 11.6sq miles) and are often accompanied by thunder, lightning and sometimes hail. (Al Jazeera)Aziz Ahmed, a schoolteacher in Buner, said the thunder accompanying recent torrential rains was so loud he thought the “end of the world had come”. Houses are partially submerged in sludge along a riverbed in the aftermath of flash floods in the Buner district on August 17, 2025 [Abdul Majeed/AFP]Search efforts focused on areas where homes were flattened by torrents of water that swept down from the mountains, carrying massive boulders that smashed into houses like explosions. “You can say that those who survived have gone mad,” said Ahmed, pointing to a house where just one family member still lived. Pakistan’s destructive monsoon seasonIn Pakistan, the monsoon season typically runs from July to September with peak rainfall usually occurring in August. Since late June, torrential monsoon rains have battered Pakistan, triggering landslides and flash floods that have killed more than 650 people and injured nearly 1,000, according to officials. Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik, the chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority, said at a news conference in Islamabad that Pakistan was experiencing shifting weather patterns because of climate change. “The intensity of this year’s monsoon is around 50 to 60 percent more than last year,” Haider said. The worst-hit province is Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 425 deaths have been recorded, followed by 164 in Punjab. INTERACTIVE-PAKISTAN-MONSOON-DEATHS-August 19, 2025 copy-1755582318More than half of the fatalities were caused by flash floods while about a third resulted from house collapses. Housing damage has also been severe: 941 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 719 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir were reported destroyed or damaged, highlighting the scale of destruction to shelter and infrastructure. In total, 2,707 homes have been damaged. Early warning systemAngry residents in Buner accused officials of failing to warn them to evacuate. There was no warning broadcast from mosque loudspeakers, a traditional method in remote areas. The government said that while an early warning system was in place, the sudden downpour in Buner was so intense that the deluge struck before residents could be alerted. Pakistan prone to natural disastersPakistan is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries and grapples with extreme weather that is becoming more frequent and more intense. Although it produces less than 1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, the country faces recurring heatwaves, heavy rains, glacial lake outburst floods and sudden cloudbursts that can devastate communities within hours. Flash floods and landslides are a regular feature of the monsoon season, especially in the rugged northwest, where villages sit on steep slopes and riverbanks. In 2022, Pakistan endured its worst monsoon season on record, which killed more than 1,700 people and caused an estimated $40bn in damage. Twelve years earlier, similar floods killed more than 1,700 and affected at least 20 million people, according to official data. INTERACTIVE-PAKISTAN-FLOODS-2010-2022-August 18, 2025 copy 2-1755529120 View the full article

2025年日本大阪・關西世博會主辦方周二（19日）宣布，其門票銷售已突破關鍵財務目標，那就是盈虧平衡點。 根據日本放送協會，日本國際博覽會協會秘書長石毛博行公布的數據指，截至8月15日，已售出約1866萬張門票，收入超過969億日圓。這一數字超過主辦方設定的1800萬張門票的盈虧平衡點，該目標旨在覆蓋約7.85億美元總運營費用的80%。 達標不等於盈利　風險猶存儘管門票銷售達標，石毛博行明確表示，博覽會最終能否實現收支平衡甚至盈利，目前仍無法確定。他指出幾大潛在風險，分別是未來支出未結算，運營虧損項目和不可抗力風險等。 未來支出未結算包括世博會結束後龐大的場館拆除和清理費用，需待全部工作完成後才能最終核算。 2025年8月13日晚，連接日本大阪世博會場的大阪地鐵中央線因電氣設備故障而一度全面停駛，導致大量參觀者和工作人員須滯留會場。（大阪世博youtube截圖）至於運營虧損項目，會場周邊停車場等服務目前處於虧損狀態。除此之外，如遭遇颱風等惡劣天氣導致博覽會臨時關閉，將直接影響門票收入。 石毛博行強調，日本國際博覽會協會將持續努力控制成本，爭取實現預算平衡，但最終財務結果需待世博會完全結束並完成所有善後工作後方能揭曉。 日本大阪世博會地鐵故障3萬人滯留36送院　營運方與世博會致歉連接大阪世博地鐵路線一度全面停駛　大量民眾滯留會場過夜操刀大阪世博日本館、草間彌生美術館　默默與原研哉齊名的設計師大阪世博無人機組成出口標識　網民大讚：「最貼心無人機應用」 View the full article