FRIDAY THE 13

A Danish travel vlogger was one of four Europeans released by Iran last month in a prisoner swap. In an exclusive interview, Thomas Kjems has told the BBC what he experienced in detention and how he feels guilt for being exchanged for an Iranian diplomat jailed in Belgium over a bomb plot. It seemed like wherever Thomas Kjems travelled last year soon descended into conflict or crisis. The 28-year-old embarked on a hitchhiking adventure from Denmark to Ukraine in January 2022. But shortly after he arrived in Ukraine the Russia invasion began. He then decided to go to Armenia, where his interest was piqued by neighbouring Iran. That September, the Iranian embassy in Yerevan gave him a tourist visa. But his arrival in Iran coincided with the death in custody of Mahsa "Zhina" Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman detained by morality police for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic's strict dress code. Her death sparked nationwide protests, which Mr Kjems encountered in almost every city that he visited. "I had these rules to avoid any conflict and anything political in Iran. I told myself: do not go near military sites or government buildings, do not take photos of them or videos. And then I added that I shouldn't come near any demonstrations," Mr Kjems told the BBC. But he did not evade the gaze of Iranian security forces. In early October, intelligence agents arrested Mr Kjems in his hostel in Tehran. He was taken to the notorious Evin prison, known for housing many protesters and political prisoners. "They didn't tell me why I was taken. They asked me: 'Why did we take you?' I was a bit confused and I said: 'I did a few videos, I don't know why.'" A prosecutor then forced him to sign two papers written in Persian, he said. "I didn't know what I was signing. [But] basically I was agreeing that these accusations were true." Mr Kjems was accused of participating in the protests and filming them, which was considered an act against Iran's national security. Inside Evin, he was housed with several Iranians also detained during the unrest. He braced himself for a gruelling ordeal, yet he experienced unexpected kindness. One of his cellmates was Ayatollah Abdolhamid Masoumi-Tehrani, a cleric critical of Iran's supreme leader who was arrested in Tehran that October. "We were hoping Thomas would not judge Iran based on the actions of those who kept in him prison," he told the BBC in a video call. Mr Kjems said the ayatollah gave him a portion of his own food every day. "It was a small gesture, but in prison it's a very big gesture," he added. Mohammad Boroughani Image caption, Mr Kjems was inside the cell when protester Mohammad Boroughani was told he had been sentenced to death Another of his cellmates was Mohammad Boroughani, a 20-year-old protester who was convicted in November by a revolutionary court in Tehran of the charge of "enmity against God" and sentenced to death. Boroughani was accused of attacking a security guard and setting fire to a government building. Amnesty International said his trial was an "unfair sham". Mr Kjems said he was in the cell the day when Boroughani was informed of his death sentence. "When I asked why he was upset, my cellmates told me his detention extended for another month. I tried to give him pep talk." A few days later, he found out the truth. "I was just shocked. I remember he told me that he tried to hit one of those riot police officers, but he didn't. There were other people in the prison who got death sentence for one Instagram story." Mr Kjems said intelligence agents did not physically harm him, but that he heard distressing accounts of prosecutors subjecting fellow prisoners to brutal torture. In June, after seven months in custody, Mr Kjems was told by prison officials to pack his stuff and leave the cell. He was driven to Mehrabad airport in Tehran and boarded a private plane bound for Oman. He had been released by Iran following mediation by the Omani government. Two Iranian-Austrian dual nationals, Massud Mossaheb and Kamran Ghaderi, and the Belgium aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele were also freed as part of the prisoner swap. The three men were serving prison sentences after being convicted of espionage - a charge they denied. At the same time, Iranian diplomat Asadollah Assadi was released by Belgium, where he had been serving a 20-year prison sentence for plotting a bomb attack on an exiled Iranian opposition group's rally in France in 2018. Thomas Kjems (L) speaks to the BBC's Jiyar Gol (R) at a cafe in Copenhagen, Denmark Image caption, Mr Kjems speaking to the BBC's Jiyar Gol in Copenhagen Mr Kjems said he "felt a lot of guilt" after learning that Assadi had been freed, adding: "This whole exchange is an ethical dilemma." His Danish lawyer, Sam Jalaei, said he was innocent but that such cases could not be solved through the legal process in Iran alone. "From the start we knew this is a political issue. That's why we were in constant contact with Danish foreign ministry and Danish intelligence service." Mr Kjems said that after seven months in prison he only wanted to go home and taste his mother's coffee. While sipping an espresso at a cafe in Copenhagen, he said: "Now that I know how the system works in Iran, how they use foreigners as a currency for exchange or for money, I would never ever go back." https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-66175598

Nickname: @FRIDAY THE 13 Video author: XABHI FF Name of the game: FreeFire link vedio :

oday's topic will be about when the new Undawn game will be released for Android and iPhone phones, a new open world game in 2023. Undawn is a very powerful open world game in partnership between Garena and Tencent, today we will talk about all its details and its official release date. The last few days have witnessed the emergence of an open world Survivor game on the phone called Undawn, the latter of which had previously been released in a Chinese version and left behind very positive comments due to the quality of the gameplay, which is exceptional and has never been released before, why not and the game Produced by two companies is the best ever, and I am talking about Tencent Games, which produced the game PUBG Mobile, and Garena, which produced Free Fire, let alone the partnership of the two companies, which I am sure will provide us with a very legendary game. The game just had an official trailer showing footage from inside Gameplay, the Chinese version that was previously released in the past months, where you have to collect resources, discover new places, build houses in the way you want, and fight strange creatures. Also, I do not forget the most important feature, which is the possibility Playing with a number of your friends online in the same world and cooperating with each other by providing the voice chat feature, literally a very wonderful thing and I am sure that it will get a very important number of players and support. The game, through the trailer, has also revealed its release date, which was officially set for this month, when the first beta version will be officially released in the English language, so I now advise you all to make a pre-registration in the game, the link of which you will find below. https://www.mg4a.com/2023/02/undawn-android-release-date.html

MLB The Show 23 patch #2 is scheduled to arrive tomorrow at around 7:00 AM ET for all platforms. The update will touch virtually every mode in the game, so the patch notes are quite extensive. Most notably, gameplay will not be touched. As always, discuss the upcoming update in the comments and let us know what you’re seeing when the patch arrives in the morning. GENERAL Two-way players can no longer exist as both Pitcher and Position players on the field at the same time. Fixed an issue where the Rally Monkey Quirk was displaying the incorrect quirk icon. Fixed an issue that caused CPU controlled teams to wear the team’s default Home or Road uniform instead of the uniform chosen by the user while selecting teams. DIAMOND DYNASTY Removed UI blur from the Community Market when placing Buy/Sell Orders. Improved UI speed for Conquest mode in Diamond Dynasty. The appropriate team colors and logos are now properly displayed in WBC moments. Fixed a bug that would show incorrect team logos and game summaries in Mini Seasons. Fixed an issue that was preventing users from equipping custom uniforms. ONLINE HEAD-TO-HEAD Umpires now show the proper animations when reacting to appeals on a check swing. Fixed an issue where pitches would “jump” and land far from their intended location. Fixed an issue where players were unable to exit the bullpen quick menu. CO-OP Fixed an issue where quick shift artwork could remain on screen. Fixed an issue where bullpen displays could remain on screen after returning to the game. Removed the option to use created stadiums to prevent cross-gen matchmaking issues. General gameplay stability improvements. Fixed an issue where fielders would be in different defensive shift positions based on user settings. Fixed an issue where the “can’t pitch” icon could remain on screen. Stability fixes added in the pitcher selection screen. Improved stability and resolved various bugs that could cause freezes during gameplay. STADIUM CREATOR Added wall sorting and height options. Fixed an issue which was allowing users to exceed the maximum prop limit. Fixed an issue that allowed some props to enter the field of play. Fixed an issue with illuminated props during night mode. Light towers can no longer interfere with the batter’s eye. Improved lighting for night games. Various stability fixes. Various prop fixes. ROAD TO THE SHOW Removed an inaccurate description when exiting a tutorial. Updated areas where pitching ratings were displayed incorrectly in the Ballplayer HUB. “Clutch” is now displayed as “P Clutch” for pitchers. Fixed an issue where users were not being rewarded properly for getting walked with bases loaded. Equipped Bat Tape Style now displays correctly when entering a game. Fixed an issue where users were unable to advance back to the MLB after being sent down to Triple-A. All Star socks will now display correctly. MARCH TO OCTOBER AND FRANCHISE Hall of Fame inductees will now show their correct positions in the Team Achievements screen. Hall of Fame inductees that were free agents at the time of their retirement will now be displayed under the team they played for most recently in the Team Achievements screen. Fixed a soft lock that occurred after simulating into future years in Franchise. Two-way players will now stay in the game as a DH when taken out as a pitcher during the All-Star Game. Fixed an issue where some prospects had inflated contracts. Modern crowds are now shown when selecting an NLB stadium after relocating a team. Fixed a crash that could occur when entering a team’s depth chart. Custom team logos will now be displayed properly during the Amateur Draft. Users now have the ability to manually fix AA playoff rosters after the MLB regular season has ended. Fixed an issue where pinch hitters were being forced to stay in the game as pitchers when the DH rule was turned off. General stability improvements. https://www.operationsports.com/mlb-the-show-23-patch-2-arrives-tomorrow-patch-notes/

Music Title: Baby Gang - Marocchino [Official Video] Signer: Baby Gang Release Date: 14 mai 2021 Officiel Youtube Link:

Nick movie: Camp Courage | Official Trailer | Netflix Time: Squid Game : 29 sept. 2023 Netflix / Amazon / HBO: Netflix Duration of the movie: 1.18 Trailer:

Lorelei King, 69, was holding two A4 posters, which she showed to the former health secretary as he stepped out of a black Jaguar. One poster displayed an image of Mr Hancock with Mrs King's husband, Vincent Marzello, who died in a care home in March 2020, aged 72. "You shook my husband's hand for your photo op," the photo was captioned. Mr Hancock didn't respond as he walked in to the building. Mrs King told journalists: "Care homes became charnel houses because there was no testing, there was insufficient PPE, but, most disastrously, it's because they discharged people from hospitals without testing them." She called on Mr Hancock to "tell the truth" to the inquiry, adding: "The bereaved families deserve that much." Covid: How many people died? 'Lions led by structural donkeys' Inside the inquiry, KC Hugo Keith asked Mr Hancock why, if he was so critical of the UK's approach to pandemic planning, was it not changed while he was health secretary. Mr Hancock said: "The only answer I can give is because I was assured that we had the best system in place in the world. "In hindsight, I wish I'd spent that short period of time [before the pandemic] changing the entire attitude to how we respond to a pandemic." He praised workers across health and social care during the pandemic, to which Hugo Keith makes the analogy: "Lions led by structural donkeys, Mr Hancock. Personally, everyone gave their all but the system was not fit for purpose, was it?" Mr Hancock replied: "That's absolutely right." What is the Covid inquiry and how long will it take? Ex-medical officer close to tears over Covid deaths UK public services were depleted when Covid hit The former health secretary was repeatedly asked about the recommendations from Exercise Cygnus, a three-day test run in October 2016 to find out how prepared the UK was for a influenza pandemic. It concluded that the UK's plan was not sufficient to "cope with the extreme demands of a severe pandemic" The Inquiry has seen evidence that only eight of the 22 recommendations made after that exercise had been fully addressed by the time Covid hit with work on the other 14, including to prepare the social care sector, still ongoing. Mr Hancock said that some of that work had been paused because of the need to prepare the country for a no-deal Brexit. But he said that he was "not convinced" that, even if all those recommendations had been addressed, the country would have been in a better place to deal with Covid. He described Exercise Cygnes as "flawed in its central assumption" that a pandemic was a disaster that needed to be "cleaned up" rather than something that needed to be stopped or contained in the first place. He said: "The doctrinal flaw was the biggest by a long way because if we'd had a flu pandemic, we still would have had the problem of no plan in place for lockdown, no prep for how to do one, no work on what, how best to lock down with the least damage. "I understand deeply the consequences of lockdown and the negative consequences for many, many people - many of which persist to this day." He said he had to overrule initial advice not to quarantine people being brought back from Wuhan early in the pandemic, and that everybody in the Western world missed that lockdowns would be necessary. He said the government also had no idea whether care homes had the right protections in place, describing the situation as "terrible" - the government didn't even know how many care home residents there were at the start of the pandemic. link: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-66029325

A whale shark has been filmed appearing to feed by scrounging around on the bottom of the ocean — the first time this behavior has ever been documented in this giant fish. Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are the biggest species of shark on Earth, growing up to 60 feet (18 meters) long. They live in warm waters all over the world, though their po[CENSORED]tion has likely decreased by more than 50% over the past 75 years. This new observation highlights how much scientists still don't know about the behavior and ecology of this threatened species. "The fact that there's so little known about it is crazy," Joel Gayford, a shark researcher and graduate student at Imperial College London, told Live Science. Sponsored Links Amazing Photos We’re Not Supposed to See BestFamilyMag.com The whale shark was filmed near La Paz, Mexico, a coastal town in southern Baja California that's known as a whale shark hotspot. Some of the local guides who take tourists out to see the sharks have agreed to share videos of any unusual whale shark behaviors with a local shark research organization, Gayford said. This is how he and his colleague first got a hold of this new footage. They published a research note about the observation on May 21 in the Journal of Fish Biology. See more The video shows the massive fish leaning over and sticking its huge jaws into the sand, appearing to vacuum up water and sediment in an effort to find food. Typically, whale sharks are filter feeders, capturing krill and other plankton either by filtering food out of the water as they swim or gulping water around the surface, Gayford said. Related: Whale sharks are the world’s biggest omnivores, scientists discover Based on this video alone, it's hard to know exactly what prey the whale shark might have been looking for, though Gayford speculated that it was foraging for benthic isopods, marine crustaceans that live on the ocean floor. Although this kind of bottom-feeding behavior hasn't been documented in whale sharks before now, it isn't entirely unexpected, Mark Meekan, a marine biologist at the University of Western Australia who was not involved in the new paper, told Live Science. The plankton eaten by whale sharks can migrate down toward the bottom of the ocean during the daytime, he said, so it stands to reason that the whale sharks would also forage at the bottom of the ocean. In fact, Meekan said some of his students have just filmed a whale shark appearing to feed in the same way. In addition, previous studies that looked at the biochemistry of whale shark diets had suggested that these giant fish were getting some of their food from the ocean floor, Gayford noted, but no one had actually spotted any whale sharks feeding down there. This kind of whale shark feeding behavior might be rare in the locations where people usually interact with whale sharks, Gayford speculated; maybe whale sharks are usually bottom-feeding far away from shore or deep underwater, for example. It's also possible that this behavior occurs only when there isn't enough of their usual food around and the sharks have to find another way to eat, he added. This recent observation also points to the potential role of ecotourism in scientific discovery, Gayford noted. While there is some controversy about how shark tourism — especially shark feeding — might have ecological consequences, these tour guides are already heading out to look for sharks every day, he said. "A rare behavior like this you may never see if you're just relying on one research organization with a few trips a week," Gayford said. "But this really increases the breadth and potential for uncovering unusual behaviors." link: https://www.livescience.com/animals/sharks/watch-1st-ever-footage-of-whale-shark-eating-from-the-bottom-of-the-ocean

Barcelona - the defending champion - came from a two-goal deficit to a thrilling victory over Celta Vigo 3-2, today, Saturday, in an exciting match in the sixth round of the Spanish Football League. Barcelona overturned a two-goal deficit until the 80th minute, to a fantastic victory thanks to Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, who scored two goals within 5 minutes (81st and 85th), and newcomer defender Joao Cancelo (89th). Celta Vigo advanced with goals from Norwegian Jurgen Strand Larsen (19) and Greek substitute Anastasios Dovikas (76). Barcelona raised its score to 16 points at the top from 5 wins to a draw, awaiting the Madrid derby between Real, which has the full score (15 points), and its neighbor, Atletico, tomorrow, Sunday. The Catalan club also advanced on goal difference over Girona, which defeated Real Mallorca 5-3 earlier. The Barcelona players gave the “gift of a lifetime” to their coach, Xavi Hernandez (43 years old), the day after he renewed his contract with Barcelona until 2025, with the possibility of renewing for an additional year. The former midfield maestro made 3 changes to the starting lineup compared to the victory over Antwerp in Belgium (5-0) 4 days ago. He brought in Marcos Alonso, Oriol Romeu, and Ferran Torres instead of Alex Balde, Gavi, and the Brazilian Rafinha. At Montjuïc Olympic Stadium, Celta Vigo opened the scoring through Strand Larsen in the 19th minute, after a corner kick was cleared by the Catalan defense three times before it reached American Luca de la Torre, who passed it to the Norwegian top scorer to score past German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The newcomer, on loan from Atletico Madrid, the Portuguese striker Joao Felix, missed the opportunity to equalize after a group game, and the former English Chelsea player shot a ball from inside the area over the crossbar (23). Felix blames himself after the missed opportunity (French press) Celta Vigo advanced in Barcelona's stronghold, which lacked vision and ideas and nearly conceded several goals, while coach Xavi was forced to remove Dutch midfielder Frankie de Jong and replace him with Gavi due to his injury (36). Xavi reshuffled his team's cards at the beginning of the second half, bringing in 16-year-old striker Al-Amin Jamal and Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo and Balde instead of Alonso, Romeo and Dane Andreas Christensen. Araujo shot a ball from 30 meters that was blocked by goalkeeper Ivan Villar (57), and Torres wasted two chances (64 and 66). At a time when Celta Vigo thought it had returned with the three points with a second goal scored by substitute Dovikas after a pass from its captain Iago Aspas that put him facing the Blaugrana goalkeeper (76), Barcelona began its comeback with two Lewandowski goals within 5 minutes, beginning after a pass from Felix was followed by a tumble that hit the crossbar and bounced into the net. After a joint game between Rafinha, Torres' substitute, and Cancelo, the latter passed it back to the Pole, who followed it with his right foot into the net (81 and 85). Former English Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo snatched the winning goal and the three points with a lightning touch after a magical pass from Gavi (89). https://www.aljazeera.net/sport/2023/9/23/بالفيديو-برشلونة-يحقق-ريمونتادا-في

Regular physical activity is an important part of your “health plan.” No matter what your age, physical activity combined with good nutrition can make a big difference in your health, sense of well-being and ability to maintain a healthy weight. Make the move to be more active, and your mind and body will reap the benefits – from your brain to your heart to your bones. People of all ages should spend time each day moving to create a physically active lifestyle. The recommended level of activity and duration depends on your health and fitness goals. Goal: Reduce your risk of chronic disease, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and certain types of cancer. Promote psychological well-being and reduce feelings of depression and anxiety. Engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week. This is in addition to your usual daily activities. Most people can achieve even greater health benefits by engaging in more vigorous physical activity or by being physically active for a longer time. Goal: Manage your weight and prevent the gradual weight gain that is common as you age with regular physical activity. Aim to get about 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous- intensity activity on most days of the week while staying within your body’s daily calorie intake needs. To maintain weight loss, participate in at least 60 to 90 minutes of daily moderate-intensity physical activity without exceeding your body’s calorie intake needs. It’s a smart precaution to consult with your healthcare provider before engaging in this level of activity. Reduce functional declines associated with aging and achieve other health benefits of physical activity identified for all adults. Participate in regular physical activities that you enjoy, at a level appropriate for your age and ability. For example, walking more is often a safe and easy way to get started. Do you have a physically active lifestyle? A sedentary lifestyle includes only the light physical activity associated with day-to-day life. Sedentary activities include television watching, reading, video games and computer time. It’s wise to reduce the amount of time you are sedentary. A moderately active lifestyle includes regular physical activity equivalent to walking about 1.5 to 3 miles per day at 3 to 4 miles per hour, in addition to the light physical activity associated with day-to-day life. Examples of moderate physical activity: hiking, light yard work, dancing, golfing (walking and carrying clubs), bicycling (less than 10 mph), walking (3.5 mph), weight lifting (general light workout), stretching. An active lifestyle includes vigorous physical activity equivalent to walking more than 3 miles per day at 3 to 4 miles per hour, in addition to the light physical activity associated with day-to-day life. Examples of vigorous physical activity: running/jogging (5 mph), bicycling (more than 10 mph), swimming (slow freestyle laps), aerobics, walking (4.5 mph), heavy yard work (e.g., chopping wood), weight lifting (vigorous effort), basketball (vigorous). https://www.myfoodandfamily.com/article/0000000000233328/move-with-regular-physical-activity

Donald Trump has said he expects to be arrested by a federal inquiry into the US Capitol riot and efforts to challenge the 2020 election results. The ex-president said in a social media post he had been informed by special counsel Jack Smith on Sunday night that he was a target of their investigation. Mr Trump posted that he was told to report to a grand jury, "which almost always means an Arrest and Indictment". The special counsel did not immediately respond to media inquiries. Such an indictment would be Mr Trump's third for alleged criminal offences, including 37 counts brought by Mr Smith's team in June accusing the president of mishandling classified documents.Mr Trump has also been charged in New York City with falsifying business records in 2016 hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. He is due to stand trial in that case next March, while a date for the classified documents case is still being contested by the president's lawyers. What's in the classified document indictment? Explaining the charges recommended by January 6 committeed In a post on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump claimed that he had been sent a letter "stating that I am a TARGET of the January 6th Grand Jury investigation, and giving me a very short 4 days to report to the Grand Jury, which almost always means an Arrest and Indictment." Mr Smith was appointed special counsel by US Attorney General Merrick Garland shortly after Mr Trump announced his presidential campaign last autumn. His team was tasked with investigating Mr Trump's handling of classified documents after leaving the White House and of managing a sprawling federal investigation into the riot at the US Capitol and attempts by Mr Trump and his advisers to "interfere with the lawful transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election". The special counsel's office has not discussed what specific criminal violations they are considering. It is not known if others have been told they are a target. Last December, a House committee investigating the events of January 6 recommended four separate criminal charges be brought against the former president and his associates: Inciting, assisting, aiding or comforting an insurrection Obstruction of an official proceeding Conspiracy to defraud the United States Conspiracy to make a false statement The Democratic-led committee - which included two Republicans - described the criminal referrals as a "roadmap to justice", but prosecutors do not have to follow a congressional committee's recommendations. Mr Smith's own investigation has involved interviews with dozens of top Trump administration officials and advisers, including former Vice-President Mike Pence and Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani. According to public comments by some who have testified before the grand jury, questions have focused on efforts by Mr Trump's team to organise slates of "fake electors" who would claim that the former president had defeated Democrat Joe Biden in seven key battleground states. State prosecutors in Atlanta, Georgia, are also investigating the former president on similar grounds, focusing on whether he illegally pressured state officials there to discard Mr Biden's victory. In a December 2020 phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Mr Trump asked that Georgia officials "find 11,780 votes" that would flip the state to Mr Trump. A decision by Georgia prosecutors on whether to indict Mr Trump is expected in August.When a mob stormed the US capitol Mr Trump is currently the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, with double-digit polling leads over his nearest rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. That lead has grown over the course of the past four months, even as his first two indictments were announced. He has frequently painted the investigations - and indictments - as an attempt by his political opponents to prevent him from returning to the White House. The former president's team has said that both indictments led to a surge in fundraising for his campaign. In recently released figures, Mr Trump raised more than $17m (£13m) for his campaign from April to June, with millions more directed to an account that could be used to help finance his legal defence. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66236837

Video title: If You Can Carry $1,000,000 You Keep Content creator ( Youtuber ) : MrBeast Official YT video:

Nick movie: FAIR PLAY | Official Trailer #2 Time: Squid Game : 26/09/2023 Netflix / Amazon / HBO: Netflix Duration of the movie: 1.19 Trailer:

A New York judge has determined that Donald Trump committed fraud by falsely inflating his wealth and assets by billions of dollars, a partial conclusion to a sweeping lawsuit and a years-long investigation from the state’s attorney general taking aim at the former president’s business empire. The ruling from Judge Arthur F Engoron on 26 September found that the former president and his company defrauded banks and insurers by grossly overvaluing assets and exaggerating his net worth on documents to secure deals and financing. The decision follows a $250m civil suit from New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose investigation targeted long-running fraud allegations surrounding Mr Trump’s business practices. A decision arrived days before the start of a non-jury trial, but the partial judgment – a major victory for Ms James and state investigators – resolves key claims in her sweeping lawsuit, which the former president’s legal team has repeatedly tried to dismiss. Meanwhile, the former president will skip the second Republican primary debate on Wednesday and will instead travel to Michigan to speak to striking autoworkers. https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-buys-gun-45-glock-latest-b2418498.html

Guwahati: At least seven exotic animals suspected to have been smuggled from Myanmar through Mizoram, were rescued by the Assam Police in Cachar district, officials said on Monday. Four Mizoram natives,identified as Himing Rupina (41), Chuhan Doma (29), Lalrint Luangga (24), Banlal Nigida (30), Jinilal Rut KM (30), were arrested on charges of wildlife trafficking. The caged animals were recovered from a vehicle coming from Mizoram, according to Cachar police officers. “We stopped the car and discovered the cages during the checking at the Lailapur Gate border crossing between Assam and Mizoram on Sunday evening,” Cachar SP Numal Mahatta said, adding that they are looking into the situation. “We believe that exotic animals were smuggled from a neighboring nation and the shipment was intended for another Indian state. To learn further information, we are questioning the people in custody,” he said. After being rescued, the caged animals were handed over to forest rangers, and were moved to the Assam State Zoo in Guwahati. According to Vijay Palve, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Cachar district, all of the animals that were rescued are not native to Asia. “One Panamanian white-faced capuchin, four Black Macaques, and two Common Opossums are among the animals. We sent them to the Assam State Zoo in order to keep them alive because they are not accustomed to the local weather,” Palve added. The majority of the animals that have been rescued, according to the forest officials, are native to Africa, and it is likely that they were smuggled through many nations before they were delivered to Assam. https://telanganatoday.com/seven-exotic-animals-rescued-at-assam-mizoram-border-4-arrested

Great Britain reached the Davis Cup Finals last eight in remarkable fashion as Dan Evans and Neal Skupski saved four match points before winning a nerve-wracking decider against France. In front of a partisan British crowd in Manchester, Evans and Skupski beat Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 1-6 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (8-6). Evans won from a set and a break down in the singles but Cameron Norrie lost. Evans and Skupski, roared on by the home fans, recovered to seal victory. "It was bonkers. I don't know what we've all sat through for nine hours," British captain Leon Smith said. Great Britain will now go on to the knockout phase of the men's team competition - known as the Final Eight - in Spanish city Malaga in November. Four nations - Britain, Australia, France and Switzerland - played in the round-robin event at Manchester's AO Arena, with the top two countries going through. Britain, who last won the Davis Cup in 2015, finished as Group B winners and will play Serbia or Italy when the draw is made on Tuesday. Australia progressed as runners-up, with defending champions Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland and the Netherlands completing the line-up. But notable absences will be hosts Spain, who failed to make it out of Group C, and 32-time champions the United States, who were stunned by Finland in their final Group D tie. 'No panic' for Evans and Skupski in nerve-wracking finale With Australia already qualified and Switzerland eliminated, Britain knew nothing other than a victory in the best-of-three tie against France would enable them to progress. What few of the 13,000 crowd - a record for a Davis Cup tie in the UK - would have predicted was the dramatic manner in which their goal was finally achieved. Evans, 33, laid the platform for the win when he fought back to beat French teenager Arthur Fils 3-6 6-3 6-4. British number one Norrie, 28, could not get his side over the line as he lost 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 7-5 to Ugo Humbert, teeing up the winner-takes-all doubles match. Evans and Skupski, who have become Smith's first-choice doubles pair, recovered from a strong start by their experienced rivals before growing in confidence as the boisterous home fans lifted their spirits. Despite being unable to make a dent on the French pair's serve in the opening two sets, Evans and Skupski went up a gear in the tie-break to level the match. A nail-biting deciding set also remained on serve - but only after Evans recovered from a double fault which brought up three match points at 5-4. Evans found a first serve to save one as Roger-Vasselin hit a forehand into the net, boldly watched another return go just long on the second and then saw another forehand from the Frenchman went wide on the third. The British pair saved another match point on Skupski's serve at 6-5 before converting their second opportunity in the deciding tie-break. "There was no panic," said 33-year-old Skupski, who is the world doubles number three and this year's Wimbledon champion. "We just went to the next point. I knew if we got through that game somehow the momentum was going to swing our way." But notable absences will be hosts Spain, who failed to make it out of Group C, and 32-time champions the United States, who were stunned by Finland in their final Group D tie. 'No panic' for Evans and Skupski in nerve-wracking finale With Australia already qualified and Switzerland eliminated, Britain knew nothing other than a victory in the best-of-three tie against France would enable them to progress. What few of the 13,000 crowd - a record for a Davis Cup tie in the UK - would have predicted was the dramatic manner in which their goal was finally achieved. Evans, 33, laid the platform for the win when he fought back to beat French teenager Arthur Fils 3-6 6-3 6-4. British number one Norrie, 28, could not get his side over the line as he lost 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 7-5 to Ugo Humbert, teeing up the winner-takes-all doubles match. Evans and Skupski, who have become Smith's first-choice doubles pair, recovered from a strong start by their experienced rivals before growing in confidence as the boisterous home fans lifted their spirits. Despite being unable to make a dent on the French pair's serve in the opening two sets, Evans and Skupski went up a gear in the tie-break to level the match. A nail-biting deciding set also remained on serve - but only after Evans recovered from a double fault which brought up three match points at 5-4. Evans found a first serve to save one as Roger-Vasselin hit a forehand into the net, boldly watched another return go just long on the second and then saw another forehand from the Frenchman went wide on the third. The British pair saved another match point on Skupski's serve at 6-5 before converting their second opportunity in the deciding tie-break. "There was no panic," said 33-year-old Skupski, who is the world doubles number three and this year's Wimbledon champion. "We just went to the next point. I knew if we got through that game somehow the momentum was going to swing our way." https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/66838065

Walking Barney opened up a world of spontaneity and sensitivity. And I’ve met so many people … In the bitter gloom of the new year, my semi-hibernating brain produced this feeble logic: I like looking at dogs in the local park, therefore I might like walking dogs around parks. As I say, it was cold. The sofa and I had become one. Signing up to a dog-borrowing website, one of several in the UK, I posted a quick profile and soon enough met a local co-owner of a small dog, Barney. This crossbreed of many types of terrier was mostly uninterested in the encounter. Still, the following week, I took Barney out for our first solo walk. And this short outing transformed me, instantly, into a dog lover. Barney was immediately captivating up close: the way he launched into the world, twitchy snout first; the way he suddenly stopped still to track a scent in the wind; his loud snuffling as he sniffed the ground, one paw raised in the air. I liked how he bounced through grass and trotted along paths, how he flipped from clownishly comedic one moment to sleek and graceful the next. I was, in short, smitten by the sheer doggyness of this dog. It wasn’t just that, though. As a journalist, I’m preoccupied with language and words (some might say pedantically so), but now this non-verbal creature seemed to be communicating with me. What was he trying to say? As I started walking Barney every week, come rain or slightly less rain, I scoured the internet for clues. I followed online search trails left by dog owners: “Why does my dog stop and refuse to move on walks?”, “Why is my dog barking at me?”, and a pet-related twist on that evergreen human insecurity: “Does my dog even like me?” I really believe that borrowing dogs is a form of socialism I learned to read Barney’s signs, and respond in a way that could make sense to a canine. And if I hit a wall, I deployed the same strategy I use with people: I bribed him with food – in this case not cupcakes and home-cooking, but chicken treats and liver paste. As well as Barney, I now walk a second dog, Arlo, a cockapoo, and marvel at the differences between these two in temperament and character. Barney is high-energy, can be aloof and likes space to do his own thing before he will even consider an interactive game like tug. As an introvert, I can relate. This dog enjoys physical and mental challenges such as dog puzzles (kind of like Wordle for pups) or performing tricks. Arlo, on the other hand, is more demonstrably affectionate, companionable and social, frequently bounding up to other dogs and people on walks. He too has an impressive range of tricks, but mostly drops toys at my feet and play-bows, signs he wants a game of tug, fetch or chase. Pre-dog me might have half-wondered if ascribing such distinct, individual personalities to animals might be veering into anthropomorphism. Pre-dog me was a fool. link: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jul/19/a-moment-that-changed-me-i-borrowed-a-dog-and-discovered-a-healthier-happier-way-of-life

Several allies of the US have expressed unease at Washington's decision to supply Ukraine with cluster bombs. On Friday, the US confirmed it was sending the controversial weapons to Ukraine, with President Joe Biden calling it a "very difficult decision". In response, the UK, Canada and Spain all pointed out that they were opposed to the use of the weapons. Cluster bombs have been banned by more than 100 countries because of the danger they pose to civilians. They typically release large numbers of smaller bomblets that can kill indiscriminately over a wide area, while those that fail to explode pose a danger for decades after a conflict ends. Why is US giving Ukraine 'abhorrent' weapons? Mr Biden told CNN in an interview on Friday that he had spoken to allies about the decision, which was part of a military aid package worth $800m (£626m). The president said it had taken him "a while to be convinced to do it", but he had acted because "the Ukrainians are running out of ammunition". The decision was quickly criticised by human rights groups, with Amnesty International saying cluster munitions pose "a grave threat to civilian lives, even long after the conflict has ended". And on Saturday, some Western allies of the US refused to endorse its decision. When asked about his position on the US decision, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak highlighted the UK was one of 123 countries that had signed up to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits the production or use of cluster munitions and discourages their use. Spain's Defence Minister Margarita Robles went further, telling reporters her country had a "firm commitment" that certain weapons and bombs could not be sent to Ukraine. "No to cluster bombs and yes to the legitimate defence of Ukraine, which we understand should not be carried out with cluster bombs," she said. The Canadian government said it was particularly concerned about the potential impact of the bombs - which sometimes lie undetonated for many years - on children. It also said it was against the use of the cluster bombs and remained fully compliant with the Convention on Cluster Munitions. "Canada is fully compliant with the Convention and we take seriously our obligation under the Convention to encourage its universal adoption," it said in a statement. The US, Ukraine and Russia have not signed up to the convention, while both Moscow and Kyiv have used cluster bombs during the war. Meanwhile, Germany, which is a signatory of the treaty, said that while it would not provide such weapons to Ukraine, it understood the American position. "We're certain that our US friends didn't take the decision about supplying such ammunition lightly," German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit told reporters in Berlin. Ukraine's defence minister has given assurances the cluster bombs would not be used in urban areas and only to break through enemy defence lines. The munitions have caused controversy over their failure - or dud - rate, meaning unexploded small bombs can linger on the ground for years and indiscriminately detonate later on. line Analysis box by Frank Gardner, security correspondent One by one, America's Nato allies have been lining up to distance themselves from its decision to supply Ukraine with controversial cluster bombs. Britain, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made clear, is a signatory to the 2008 convention that prohibits their production and use - and discourages their use by others. Canada went further, with a government statement saying it was committed to putting an end to the effects of cluster munitions have on civilians, particularly children. Spain said these weapons should not be sent to Ukraine, while Germany said it was also against the decision, although it understood the reasoning behind it. Even Russia condemned it, despite having made extensive use of cluster munitions itself against Ukraine, saying it would litter the land for generations. But Gen Sir Richard Shirreff, a former deputy commander of Nato in Europe, defended the decision, saying their deployment should make it easier for Ukraine to break through Russian lines. If the West had provided more arms sooner, he said, then there would not have been a need to provide this weapon now. line The US's National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters the American cluster bombs being sent to Ukraine were far safer than those he said were already being used by Russia in the conflict. He told reporters the US ones have a dud rate of less than 2.5%, while Russia's have a dud rate of between 30-40%, he said. Mr Biden's move will bypass US law prohibiting the production, use or transfer of cluster munitions with a failure rate of more than 1%. Evidence of widespread use of cluster munitions in Kharkiv The US Cluster Munition Coalition, which is part of an international civil society campaign working to eradicate the weapons, said they would cause "greater suffering, today and for decades to come". The UN human rights office has also been critical, with a representative saying "the use of such munitions should stop immediately and not be used in any place". A spokesperson for Russia's defence ministry described the move as an "act of desperation" and "evidence of impotence in the face of the failure of the much-publicised Ukrainian 'counter-offensive'." Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova also said Ukraine's assurances it would use the cluster munitions responsibly were "not worth anything". Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously accused the US and its allies of fighting an expanding proxy war in Ukraine. Ukraine's counter-offensive, which began last month, is grinding on in the eastern Donetsk and south-eastern Zaporizhzhia regions. Last week, Ukraine's military commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny said the campaign had been hampered by a lack of adequate firepower. He expressed frustration with the slow deliveries of weapons promised by the West. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the US president for "a timely, broad and much-needed" military aid package. link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66144153

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