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Still people are having fear" -- What life is like in some of the cities captured by the Taliban Taliban fighters sit on the back of a vehicle in Herat, Afghanistan, on August 14, 2021. Taliban fighters sit on the back of a vehicle in Herat, Afghanistan, on August 14, 2021. Hamed Sarfarazi/AP Over the last week, the Taliban has made significant gains across Afghanistan and now control over half of the country's provincial capitals. Cities like Kandahar, Herat and Kunduz are among those now under control of the Taliban, whose fighters are circling ever closer to the capital, Kabul. CNN spoke to Afghans in Herat and Kunduz, where some said the Taliban had brought a sense of quiet after weeks of fighting, while others expressed fear. Ismahel is a 40-year-old shopkeeper in the city of Herat, Afghanistan's third-largest city and a major urban center in western Afghanistan. He tells CNN normality is returning to the city after the tumult of its fall to the Taliban on Thursday evening. "[The] entire city is back to normal, people are living normally [and] shops are all open," Ismahel says, adding that he has seen women dressed in burqas resuming their daily lives too. He recalled a friend visiting his shop on Thursday warning of the Taliban's encroachment and suggesting they flee the city. "We closed the shops and went home. Afterwards, we saw that the city fell to the Taliban," he said. "Today is the first day so students didn't go to school, but government employees went to their offices." He added that some people were happy that fighting and "the sounds of bullets" had stopped after a month. "We feel good after the war finished," he said. But people in Herat are also likely living in fear, and many would be hesitant to express criticism of the Taliban in such early days of its control. In Kunduz, the first city to be taken, 31-year-old resident Atiqullah says people are adapting to the transition of power but remain fearful. "Still people are having fear, although we were told by the Taliban not to be afraid," Atiqullah tells CNN. He adds that some women are going out and have been told to wear burqas, while teachers have been told to return to schools, though the Taliban has said only male teachers should educate boys and female teachers tutor girls. 4 hr 42 min ago "Hard-won rights of Afghan girls and women being ripped away from them," UN chief says Displaced Afghan women and children from Kunduz are seen at a mosque that is sheltering them on August 13, 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Displaced Afghan women and children from Kunduz are seen at a mosque that is sheltering them on August 13, 2021 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Paula Bronstein/Getty Images The UN Secretary-General called on the Taliban to halt their offensive in Afghanistan, where he said the situation was “spinning out of control.” Speaking to reporters from the UN Headquarters in New York, António Guterres said Friday it was “particularly horrifying and heartbreaking to see reports of the hard-won rights of Afghan girls and women being ripped away from them.” The UN says Afghan women and children make up the majority of those displaced in recent months, with nonprofit groups left grappling with how to help the women and girls left in the country. Masuda Sultan, a board member of Women for Afghan Women, the largest women’s rights organization in Afghanistan, told CNN Saturday that “it’s a very scary time” for civilians but the Taliban was allowing women in some areas to work. She said there is rapid change “but we're being told that international NGOs can function, that women can work.” She adds: “The Taliban have told us this. They have had meetings in Sar-e Pol and in Kunduz, with folks that we know on the ground and have told us that we can continue our operations. And so, we really are hopeful that we can continue our work, and that the transition in some of these places will be smoother than expected.” Sar-e Pol and Kunduz are among the 18 territories which the Taliban has seized control of in recent days. Women and children from Kunduz pray at a mosque in Kabul where they are seeking shelter on August 13, 2021. Women and children from Kunduz pray at a mosque in Kabul where they are seeking shelter on August 13, 2021. Paula Bronstein/Getty Images Sultan says that while there are many trying to leave the country, there are still around 20 million women and girls left in Afghanistan that her organization hopes to continue to serve within the Islamic rules and Afghan culture. “We need to continue to press the Taliban on this issue. the international community should absolutely make women the focus of aid, and girls’ education, the focus of the programs,” Sultan said, adding that with the troop withdrawal there has been a noticeable drop in aid to the country. She continued: “We need to think about ways in which we can stay engaged with the Afghan people, that we don't abandon them in their moment of need. That we haven't spent 20 years building a country that is starving and desperate for a way out. That we keep people in Afghanistan because the best way to avoid what these countries around the world don't want is more refugees, is to make Afghanistan safe and a livable country for the 40 million people that are there.” Website: www.edition.cnn.com

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Steven L. Hall retired from the Central Intelligence Agency in 2015 after 30 years of running and managing intelligence operations in Eurasia and Latin America. He finished his career as a member of the Senior Intelligence Service, the small cadre of officers who are the senior leaders of the CIA's Clandestine Service. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. (CNN)Reasoning with Vladimir Putin will not make him support Bashar al-Assad's departure. The specter of additional economic sanctions against Russia just might. Indeed, when considering where to begin addressing the myriad problems in Syria, Russia is a good place to start. Syria, of course, is dominated by an authoritarian dictator more than willing to slaughter his own po[CENSORED]tion using horrific methods, including poison gas and barrel bombs. Steven L. Hall Steven L. Hall And Russia, which continues to claim that Assad's government is legitimate, has shored up the brutal regime -- putatively in its fight against ISIS, but largely for its own strategic advantage in the region. The recent sarin gas attacks, launched by Assad forces from a base where a Russian military contingent was present, makes it difficult for any reasonable person to believe Russia had no idea what was going on. The White House has used the attack to underline the need for the Kremlin to take some sort of action against the Assad regime, and of course Russia is resisting. As is clear from Wednesday's Russian veto in the United Nations Security Council, Russia will go no further than calling for an international investigation of the incident. It is unfortunate in the extreme that the United States and the West have to include Russia in the context of solving problems in Syria, given that rarely if ever has the Kremlin been helpful in resolving issues important to Washington. But let's face it: we did it to ourselves by allowing Putin -- an authoritarian dictator with much in common with Assad -- to move into the power vacuum in Syria when Western countries chose not to do so. Tillerson: Russia-US relations at a low point Tillerson: Russia-US relations at a low point 03:45 To be clear, Russia's most significant interest in Syria is not in warm water ports or military bases, but rather in using the tragic conflict to gain a seat as a great power at the international table. Russia wants to show the world it is to be taken seriously, and that it is key to resolving Middle East crises. Russia is expert at creating crisis and unrest, making sure it remains involved in the conflict, and then painting itself as a necessary part of any solution. (Take a look at any of the so-called frozen conflicts which Russia authored -- Abkhazia, Transnistria, Ngorno-Karabakh, Georgia, and increasingly, eastern Ukraine.) Given the remaining gulf between the Kremlin and Washington on Syria, the United States needs to speak in the language that Putin understands best: power and the inevitability of concrete consequences. The United States and its allies should use one of the few diplomatic tools that may still be capable of influencing the Kremlin: economic sanctions. These are not as emotionally satisfying as cruise missiles and, of course, there are already some in place. But consider: the current sanctions are there as a result of Putin's annexation of Crimea and continued meddling in eastern Ukraine, and were implemented by a broad swath of Western democracies. They have significantly damaged Russia's economy, much more than Putin would admit. Royce: If Assad continues chemical attacks U.S. will respond Royce: If Assad continues chemical attacks U.S. will respond 06:00 The number of countries supporting sanctions also stings. Strikingly, the sanctions have remained in place for longer than many, probably including Putin himself, would have imagined. It is clear that the Kremlin would like to see them removed ... perhaps in exchange for Russia's help in Syria. As the Trump administration finally begins to engage Russia diplomatically, that is how Putin would write the script. But the US must convey to Russia (probably multiple times across various diplomatic meetings) that instead of a respite, it faces more sanctions as a result of its actions (or inactions) in Syria. The US and its allies should point out that Russia was the original guarantor of safety from chemical attacks in Syria, and that the Kremlin either failed in that effort, or was a least willing to turn a blind eye to the continued use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime. Some have argued that Russia was actually complicit in the recent chemical attacks. So as not to get bogged down in a ridiculous argument with Moscow about who used the weapons, whether it was really terrorists who had them in a storehouse, or whatever other distracting story the Kremlin will concoct, it should be made clear that new sanctions are not based solely on chemical attacks. Barrel bombing and other atrocities, which are supported de facto by Russia when Russia supports Assad, are sufficient reasons for additional sanctions targeting Russia. Assad did it, and Russians have a problem Assad did it, and Russians have a problem It would be best and most efficient if Russia could be presented with new sanctions as inevitable, a decision already made by the new administration in Washington in response to the most recent abominable sarin attacks. President Trump, as fond as any president of executive orders, could draw up new sanctions relatively quickly. Getting allies on board, while useful, is not essential. Thus Russia should be presented a concrete choice: either work with the US, the West, and interested Middle Eastern governments to ensure Assad's controlled departure from the scene in Syria, or face additional economic sanctions for having Assad act as a Russia proxy. The Russians would also be called upon to deal with the Iranian involvement in Syria, which is appropriate given that Putin has also positioned Russia as an interlocutor for the Iranian regime. Russia will bridle at this, no doubt calling the threat of additional sanctions unfair, unbalanced, a violation of international law, a provocation, and so forth. But that is all standard Russia behavior, and something that the US and the West must simply sit through, much like parents sitting through the inevitable protests of a teenager who is informed of an evening curfew. Putin is running out of options in Syria Putin is running out of options in Syria Removing Assad, while a good first step, will not entirely resolve all the issues of the Syrian conflict. There are legitimate questions, posed by the Russians and others, as to who would take power after Assad's departure. The concern that a new Syrian government could be dominated by jihadis is a real one, and we can expect the Russians to remind us of the post-Gadhafi Libya. The United States and its allies must have some sort of plan in place which at least maximizes the possibility of a positive outcome in Syria. But the bottom line is that the perfect ought not to be the enemy of the good: we need not have everything finalized prior to planning for the departure of Assad. The devil will be in the details. Russia's continued involvement in Syria will ensure that. But we should accept that the policy of "strategic patience" has left Russia in a position to play a role in the resolution of the Syria catastrophe. It is now the job of the US and the West to ensure Russia plays that role in a way that benefits Syria, or face the consequences.

types of bee and pollinating insects, so it is the world’s most important pollinator of food crops. It is estimated that one third of the food that we consume each day relies on pollination mainly by bees, but also by other insects, birds and bats. NEW REPORT reveals US pushing to weaken UK pesticide standards. If UK Government gives way there will be larger amounts of more toxic chemicals in our food. Many domestic and imported fruits and vegetables require pollination. Examples include avocados, soybeans, asparagus, broccoli, celery, squash, and sunflowers for oil, cucumbers, citrus fruit, peaches, kiwis, cherries, cranberries and melons. For crops such as blueberries and almonds, the honey bee plays an essential role in pollination of commercial crops, with around 80% of the US crop said to be dependent on honey bees. Honey bees can also pollinate clover and alfalfa, which are fed to cattle, so there are implications for the meat and dairy industry too. And that is not to mention the huge range of manufactured food products made from all these ingredients. In addition, honey bees play a significant role in the pollination of other important crops such as cotton and flax. And there are also a number of valuable non-food products produced by the honey bee, such as beeswax used in cleaning and beauty products. Bees and the economy In 2008, the British Bee Keepers Association estimates that honey bees make a significant contribution to the £165 million annually generated for the UK economy through pollination by insects, with the figure put at £200 million in 2009 by the UK’s Public Accounts Committee. Many flowering food crops in the UK rely on honey bees for this service, for example: apples, pears, field beans, runner and dwarf beans, broad beans, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and oil seed rape, with 39 commercial crops reliant on bees in total. Even if a crop is not directly pollinated by a honey bee, the crop still benefits indirectly from being in an environment in which honey bees are working, due to the increased biodiversity in the area which stimulates the crop. Bumble beeThe humble bumble The bumble bee is also used commercially in the UK as a pollinator of food crops, in particular for tomatoes and soft fruits such as strawberries. Due to their size, shape and ability to vibrate vigorously they are more effective at pollinating certain crops. In the UK we have 25 native species of bumble bee. This may seem like a healthy number but unfortunately three species are already extinct, two are critically endangered and many more are seriously declining in numbers.

In only its fifth year of existence, the Honda CRF450RX has received a complete overhaul. The entire chassis has been updated, including the frame, subframe, swingarm, suspension, triple clamps, and bodywork. The engine received major changes to the cylinder head, intake tract, and EFI; it also now has a single muffler exhaust system. The 2021 CRF450RX remains a serious off-road race machine with the same high-power engine and sharp handling characteristics as the CRF450R motocross bike. 2021 honda crf450rx charging trees on the trail Riding the 2021 Honda CRF450RX.Jeff Allen Since the CRF450RX is an off-road competition model, it does have a few added features that make it more race-ready for events such as hare & hound, Grand National Cross Country (GNCC), and open desert racing. Those include softer suspension valving and springs, dedicated ECU mapping, a larger 2.1-gallon fuel tank, 18-inch rear wheel, O-ring chain, skid plate, and sweet OEM hand guards.

Many people think about what they can do to look younger. Most consider super-expensive beauty formulations. You know, the ones that promise to erase every wrinkle and dark circle to make you look 20 years younger. (Spoiler: no such thing, it’s all lies. Ageing is an unstoppable train. Sorry.) The truth is, looking younger isn’t about eliminating every crease. The things that actually deliver a youthful demeanour are rather less complicated. Like not too-thin brows. Like brighter teeth. Like wearing blusher. Its power to bring freshness to skin is deeply underrated. I loved blusher, long before it loved me. Back in the day, the options were incredibly limited for darker skin tones. Now there is an exciting breadth of options for everyone, many of which are skincare-led, such as Tower 28 which is excellent for sensitive or acne and eczema-prone skins. Lisa Eldridge’s range won’t clog your pores and Tata Harper’s formulations are vitamin-infused. If you prefer a matt finish, then go for a powder option, be sure to blow out the powder on your brush, then apply to the top of the cheeks and blend outwards. Otherwise you will get a very intense and unnatural finish. Gel or cream options – tap, don’t rub, into skin – are wonderful for a sheer, “glowy” look. Ultimately, there’s nothing like a glow to make you look more youthful. Advertisement 1. Tata Harper Vitamin Cream Blush £30.34, tataharperskincare.com 2. Bobbi Brown Face & Cheek Palette £32, bobbibrown.co.uk 3. Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Blush £30, anastasiabeverlyhills.com 4. Tower 28 Beach Please Luminous Balm £18, cultbeauty.co.uk 5. Lisa Eldridge Enlivening Blush £24, lisaeldridge.com 6. Nars Orgasm on the Beach Cheek Palette £46, narscosmetics.co.uk 7. Hermès Rose Hermès Blush £63, hermes.com 8. Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush £44, selfridges.com 9. KVD Beauty Mod Con Liquid Gel Blush £22, boots.com 10. MAC Extra Dimension Blush £24, maccosmetics.co.uk … as you're joining us from Colombia, we have a small favour to ask. Tens of millions have placed their trust in the Guardian’s high-impact journalism since we started publishing 200 years ago, turning to us in moments of crisis, uncertainty, solidarity and hope. More than 1.5 million readers, from 180 countries, have recently taken the step to support us financially – keeping us open to all, and fiercely independent. With no shareholders or billionaire owner, we can set our own agenda and provide trustworthy journalism that’s free from commercial and political influence, offering a counterweight to the spread of misinformation. When it’s never mattered more, we can investigate and challenge without fear or favour. Unlike many others, Guardian journalism is available for everyone to read, regardless of what they can afford to pay. We do this because we believe in information equality. Greater numbers of people can keep track of global events, understand their impact on people and communities, and become inspired to take meaningful action. We aim to offer readers a comprehensive, international perspective on critical events shaping our world – from the Black Lives Matter movement, to the new American administration, Brexit, and the world's slow emergence from a global pandemic. We are committed to upholding our reputation for urgent, powerful reporting on the climate emergency, and made the decision to reject advertising from fossil fuel companies, divest from the oil and gas industries, and set a course to achieve net zero emissions by 2030. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our journalism and sustains our future.

The Taliban has seized control of Kunduz in northern Afghanistan, local officials told CNN on Sunday. It is the first major city to fall to the insurgent group since they began their offensive in May, and marks a big blow to the Afghan government. Kunduz is the third of four provincial capitals that the Taliban has captured in recent days, a string of victories that come as foreign forces, led by the United States, complete their withdrawal from Afghanistan. With a po[CENSORED]tion of 375,000, Kunduz is a significant military priz On Sunday, Taliban forces mostly overran the provincial capital city of Sar-e-Pul, also in the country's north, marking another loss for the government amid a series of unprecedented advances by the insurgency in its 20-year war A member of the Sar-e-pul provincial council told CNN the city had fallen to the Taliban and that one remaining army base containing Afghan security forces was surrounded by Taliban fighters The Taliban said in a statement that they had taken the city. CNN has been unable to independently verify the group's claims Besieged on a 'Taliban-made island,' Kandahar's residents see no way out as militants advance ever close Besieged on a 'Taliban-made island,' Kandahar's residents see no way out as militants advance ever close In Kunduz, the Afghan Defense Ministry said commandos had taken back control of the city's General Raziq Square and the headquarters of the Kunduz National Radio and TV as fighting in the province continues Earlier in the day, a member of the Kunduz provincial council confirmed to CNN that most of the provincial capital had fallen to the Taliban The Taliban said that all parts of the city were under its control, adding that it had also seized armored vehicles, weapons and military equipment. CNN could not independently confirm the Taliban's claims Heavy fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security forces in the city on Saturday killed at least 11 civilians and wounded 40, according to Kunduz health director, Dr. Ehsanullah Fazli Provincial council member Gholam Rabani Rabani told CNN both sides had suffered casualties on Saturday during fighting on the outskirts of the city, and that the total number of fatalities was still unclear US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the situation in Kunduz, a White House official told CNN "The President has been briefed and senior officials from the NSC, State, and DOD (Department of Defense) are actively engaging through secure channels with Embassy Kabul to assess developments," the official said, confirming news first reported by the New York Times The Taliban briefly captured Kunduz in 2015 and again in 2016 before being pushed out by Afghan security forces Descent into violenc The city of Zaranj, near the Iranian border, became the first provincial capital to fall into Taliban control on Friday. The following day, the insurgents seized Sheberghan, the provincial capital of Jawzjan, near the border of Turkmenistan The country's swift descent into violence following the withdrawal of US and NATO troops supporting the government has shocked many. There are fears even the national capital, Kabul, could fal The US has ramped up airstrikes against Taliban positions over the past week in a bid to halt the insurgents' advances as its drawdown of troops continues. "US forces have conducted several airstrikes in defense of our Afghan partners in recent days," Maj. Nicole Ferrara, a US Central Command spokesperson, told CNN Sunday, sidestepping a question about the targets of the strikes The Taliban has accused the US of bombing a hospital and a high school, along with other civilian targets in Helmand Province. CNN could not independently verify their claims The US Embassy in Kabul criticized the Taliban's offensive on Afghan cities on Sunday, saying its actions to "forcibly impose its rule are unacceptable and contradict its claim to support a negotiated settlement in the Doha peace process. They demonstrate wanton disregard for the welfare and rights of civilians and will worsen this country's humanitarian crisis. Assassinations of the Taliban's critics have happened alongside the fighting. Scores of social activists, journalists, bureaucrats, judges and public figures fighting to sustain a liberal Islamic administration have been targeted and killed by Taliban fighters in a bid to silence voices of dissent in the war-torn country, Reuters reported US 'not ready to throw in the towel' on Afghan talks even as Taliban violence grow US 'not ready to throw in the towel' on Afghan talks even as Taliban violence grow In Kabul, Taliban attackers on Friday killed Dawa Khan Menapal, director of the Afghan government's media and information center. On Tuesday, the district governor of Sayed Abad in Maidan Wardak, Amir Mohammad Malikzai, was also killed by Taliban fighters in Kabul, government officials have told CNN On Saturday, the US Embassy in Kabul urged American citizens to leave the country "immediately using available commercial flight options "Given the security conditions and reduced staffing, the Embassy's ability to assist US citizens in Afghanistan is extremely limited even within Kabul," the embassy said in a statement The UK's Foreign Office updated its advice on Friday, telling its nationals to leave Afghanistan by commercial mean ...".ss."..l..e........rr...e.ghanistan by commercial means. Website: edition.cnn.com

New Delhi: Kangana Ranaut is in work mode even at quarantine.The 31 year old actress who is currently practicing social distancing at her Manali home has started an intense workout schedule for her biographical drama 'Thalaivi'. The actress apparently had put on 20 kg weight to look her part, the latter years of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minisiter J Jayalaitha in the movie. PauseUnmute Fullscreen VDO.AI In a video shared by her team, the 'Panga' actress is seen doing fast steps at her home staircase and also then perfecting the wall climber exercises acompanied with her trainer and her cute nephew, son to sister Rangoli chandel. Almost a month after revealing that she had gained 20 kilograms for Thalaivi, Kangana's team also mentioned that she has lost five kilograms of the extra weight already. "Guys, taking cues from #Kangana to workout, stay motivated and don't let the lethargy get to you. She has lost 5 kilos, long way to go!" read the caption of the workout video. “Thats d way mahi way,” wrote her Panga co-star Neena Gupta in the comments section. In her last month's Instagram post, Kangana introduces her trainer Yogesh and says, “Hello everyone! We are resuming our workout after Thalaivi and ye hain mere trainer Yogesh.” She then asks him to take a guess for the number of kilos she has put on. “My guess is 10, I used to be 52,” she says and the trainer takes a guess that she must have put on “not less than 15.” As kangana step on the weighing machine, the meter clock strikes 70.3 kg which is an addition of 18 kgs. The two then reveal that she has to lose all the extra weight in two months. Her trainer reveals he has full faith in Kangana that she can do it. Also Read: On Jayalalithaa's 72nd Birth Anniversary, Kangana Ranaut Unveils New Look For Thalaivi The weight loss is for the shoot of her action thriller 'Dhakaad' and also 'Tejas' the shoot of which starts after the lockdown ends.

A city in southwestern Afghanistan has become the country's first provincial capital to fall to the Taliban in recent years. Multiple local officials said the Taliban had captured Zaranj, in Nimroz province, on Friday afternoon, in a major blow to government forces. The militants continue to make rapid advances in the country, as foreign troops withdraw. They have taken swathes of countryside and are now targeting key cities. Other provincial capitals under pressure include Herat in the west, and the southern cities of Kandahar and Lashkar Gah. Zaranj is a major trading hub near the border with Iran. After capturing surrounding districts, the militants made a sustained bid to seize the city. Nimroz's Deputy Governor Roh Gul Khairzad told AFP news agency Zaranj had fallen "without a fight". She and other local officials complained of a lack of reinforcements from the government. "The city was under threat for a while, but no one from the central government listened to us," Ms Khairzad said. Some reports said a deal had been reached with the Taliban that allowed local officials to flee to Iran with their families. The insurgents claimed victory in a post shared on Twitter. "This is the beginning, and see how other provinces fall in our hands very soon," a Taliban commander told Reuters. Pictures posted on social media showed civilians looting items from government buildings. Taliban insurgents were photographed inside the local airport and posing at the entrance to the city. The last time the Taliban won a provincial capital was in 2016, when they briefly held the northern city of Kunduz. The militants have swept through Afghanistan in recent months, launching a major offensive to coincide with the withdrawal of US forces after 20 years of military operations. The capture of Zaranj will add to their momentum. On Thursday night, US and Afghan forces launched air strikes on the group's positions in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province. Government troops have vowed not to lose the strategically significant city, and fighting there has been fierce. Officials have urged civilians to evacuate, with thousands trapped or fleeing for their lives. media captionIn July, the BBC's Yogita Limaye travelled to Afghanistan's Kunduz province, most of which has fallen to the Taliban The UN's special envoy for Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons, on Friday said the war in the country had entered a "new, deadlier, and more destructive phase", with more than 1,000 civilians killed in the past month. She warned that the country was heading for "catastrophe", and called on the UN Security Council to issue an "unambiguous statement that attacks against cities must stop now". " To attack urban areas is to knowingly inflict enormous harm and cause massive civilian casualties. Nonetheless, the threatening of large urban areas appears to be a strategic decision by the Taliban, who have accepted the likely carnage that will ensue," she said. Earlier on Friday, the director of Afghanistan's government media centre was assassinated by Taliban militants in the capital, Kabul. The Taliban said Dawa Khan Menapal had been "punished for his deeds". PROFILE: Who are the Taliban? ANALYSIS: How the Taliban retook half of Afghanistan ON THE GROUND: Bodies on the streets as fighting traps Afghans US Chargé d'Affaires to Afghanistan Ross Wilson tweeted that he was "saddened and disgusted" by the killing, adding: "These murders are an affront to Afghans' human rights and freedom of speech." Days earlier, an attack on the Afghan defence minister's house in Kabul left at least eight people dead. The minister, Bismillah Khan Mohammadi, was not at home at the time. Website: www.bbc.com

trillion in market value for many powerful Chinese companies and stoked fears about the future of innovation in the world's second largest economy. But the end goal of Beijing's aggressive bid for control isn't about creating chaos. The government wants to make clear to its corporate champions that tapping capitalist markets is fine — as long as it is on the ruling Chinese Communist Party's terms. The heavy selling has accelerated in recent months as Chinese authorities slap companies with fines, ban apps from stores and demand that some firms completely overhaul their businesses. Beijing calls for calm after historic tech stock rout Beijing calls for calm after historic tech stock rout Hundreds of billions of dollars in market value has been erased in the last week alone, after regulators announced curbs on China's for-profit education industry and its food delivery sector. The way Beijing sees it, the efforts to rein in private enterprise are meant to protect the economy and the country's citizens from instability. They're also intended to fix longstanding concerns around overwork, data privacy and inequality in education. "Ultimately, Beijing's crackdown on private business is about control," said Alex Capri, a research fellow at the Hinrich Foundation. "The main priority is about preventing behavior amongst private companies that could engender more independent and potentially non-conformist activities, which undermines Beijing's state-centric model." A major corporate shakeup Corporate China has been rocked by Beijing's reforms. The government first focused on tech, abruptly pulling an IPO for Ant Group in November. The company, best known for its Alipay payment app, was later ordered to restructure its operations and become a financial holding company. No part of the tech industry has been spared scrutiny. Alibaba (BABA) was hit with a record $2.8 billion fine after regulators accused the e-commerce company of behaving like a monopoly. Other firms, including social media and gaming giant Tencent (TCEHY) and e-commerce platform Pinduoduo (PDD), have been hauled in front of authorities investigating alleged anticompetitive behavior, too. Tencent cracks down on screen time after Chinese state media says gaming is 'spiritual opium' Tencent cracks down on screen time after Chinese state media says gaming is 'spiritual opium' And early last month, Didi was banned from app stores shortly after the ride-hailing company went public in the United States. Regulators have set their sights on other industries, too. Other US-listed Chinese companies have been singled out by authorities who are probing them over data security issues. On July 24, China banned education and private tutoring companies from turning a profit or raising funding on stock markets — dramatic new rules that will almost certainly force many major firms to rethink their entire business model. The crackdown is "unprecedented in terms of its duration, intensity, scope, and the velocity of new policy announcements," analysts from Goldman Sachs wrote in a research report last week that called the strategy a "rebalancing of socialism and capital markets." "Chinese authorities are prioritizing social welfare and wealth redistribution over capital markets in areas that are deemed social necessities and public goods," they added. A woman on her electric-powered scooter films a large video screen outside a shopping mall showing Chinese President Xi Jinping speaking during an event to commemorate the 100th anniversary of China's Communist Party at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, Thursday, July 1, 2021. A woman on her electric-powered scooter films a large video screen outside a shopping mall showing Chinese President Xi Jinping speaking during an event to commemorate the 100th anniversary of China's Communist Party at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, Thursday, July 1, 2021. Merit to the crackdown Beijing's decision to frame its unprecedented clampdown as a necessary public good has merit, according to analysts. The regulatory crackdown on Didi and other internet companies, for example, focused on allegations that those firms mishandled sensitive data about their users in China, posing risks to personal privacy and national cybersecurity. There's also been a public outcry in the country against widespread data breaches, abuse of personal information, and corporate surveillance. China's escalating crackdown on business is moving stocks China's escalating crackdown on business is moving stocks Inequalities within education and private learning have also spurred plenty of reform. As the government announced its restrictions on for-profit tutoring last week, it claimed that the industry has been "hijacked" by capital and that has "distorted the nature of education." The country's education system is heavily competitive and exam-focused, leading to concerns about student fatigue. Private tutoring, meanwhile, has flourished as urban middle-class families have tried to give a head-start to their children by preparing them intensively for exams — but such resources are costly. The government's focus on inequality is a "smart choice," said Sonja Opper, a professor at Bocconi University in Italy who studies China's economy and the private sector, given concerns about disparities in income and education. The country is also increasingly worried about unemployment — especially the welfare of its young workers, a growing number of whom are complaining about a crushing culture of overwork. The door is closing on Chinese tech IPOs on Wall Street The door is closing on Chinese tech IPOs on Wall Street A movement called "lying flat" — "tangping" in Chinese — has become enormously po[CENSORED]r among young people. It calls on them to reject societal pressures to work hard, get married, have children or buy property because of the diminishing rewards of achieving such goals. Chinese tech companies have been widely blamed for forcing young people to work long hours and glorifying overwork culture. "996," which refers to the practice of working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. six days a week, has attracted particular ire among urban young workers and is said to be common among big technology companies and startups. The "lying flat" philosophy appears to have worried the ruling Chinese Communist Party. The word "tangping" has been largely censored on Chinese social media in recent months, and state media outlets have criticized the movement. "The creative contribution of youths is indispensable for our country to achieve high-quality development," the state-owned Guangming Daily wrote in a May editorial. It called the "lying flat" movement problematic as China contends with a labor shortage that could hurt its long-term economic goals. The risk of aggressive action Beijing's tactics carry plenty of risk. Along with the $1.2 trillion in market value that Goldman Sachs says has been wiped off of prominent stocks, analysts also point to concerns that the crackdown could kill China's entrepreneurial spirit — a critical piece of the country's economic liberalization and rapid growth. "The increase in regulation can bring some benefits to the Chinese corporate world as some sectors are very unregulated," said Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute at the SOAS University of London. "But the increase in control also signals to the private entrepreneurs that they must now watch their steps more carefully and bring their businesses in line with Party guidelines or leadership." China is cracking down on data privacy. That's terrible news for some of its biggest tech companies China is cracking down on data privacy. That's terrible news for some of its biggest tech companies Opper, of Bocconi University, cited similar concerns, adding that Beijing's decision to target specific companies may not be "the most effective policy response." She suggested that progressive taxation and education support for the poor could more successfully combat inequality. "China's government may well feel, that more restrictive policies can be introduced, now that the country has moved closer to the technological frontier," she said. "But it is highly unlikely that the entrepreneurial spirit — so successfully unleashed by leaders preceding [President] Xi Jinping — survives under a highly restrictive, regulatory regime." The reforms really come back to one thing, according to Tsang, who warned that economic inequality could hurt the legitimacy of the Communist Party if left unchecked. "I think what Xi is attempting is not to crackdown on private businesses but to enhance regulations (or party control) over private enterprises so that they all 'serve the people' or follow the leadership of the Party," he added. Website: www.Edition.cnn.com

PLS make more activity and came back in 2 week

for me , make more activity, you have only this post ,

I have a complaint I go to the server to do activity and they kick me I know that is in the rules but in the rules they say that an admin player or player below the owner who does not have auto-attack, the thing is that when I activate the auto-attack in the same way administrators especially helper and adminstrator and some old kicke me, why? if it says that those who do not use auto attack. So how do I do the activity? If I barely go in, it lasted 5 minutes and it gives me the kick notice, I need answers and they talk to the administrators.

Accepted ❤️

Paris (CNN)He was once the subject of mockery in French political circles. Now Emmanuel Macron has had the last laugh. The independent centrist, who had never held elected office, has become the Fifth Republic's youngest ever president after defeating far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. The 39-year-old former investment banker, who entered the race without the backing of an established political party, had been branded by his opponents as inexperienced. But part of Macron's allure is his atypical rise -- a civil servant who became a millionaire and eventually a government minister. Marriage a focus His private life has attracted attention, too. As a 17-year-old, he told his high school teacher that he would one day marry her. He fulfilled that promise in 2007 when Brigitte Trogneux, 24 years his senior, became his wife. French journalist Anne Fulda reveals more details about their relationship in her recent book, "Emmanuel Macron: A Perfect Young Man." According to Reuters, the book tells how the teenage Macron defied his father's orders to end the romance with Trogneux, who was married with three children at the time. Macron's wife Brigitte -- once his high school teacher -- has been highly visible during his campaign. Macron's wife Brigitte -- once his high school teacher -- has been highly visible during his campaign. Since 2015, the previously very private couple have been spending more time with the media, appearing in several French glossy magazines. The marriage took center stage earlier this year when Macron was accused of having an affair with a man. He dismissed the allegations and criticized the rumormongers, saying: "For those who want to spread the rumor that I am deceitful... not only is it unpleasant for Brigitte, but I promise that from morning until night, she shares my whole life with me. She's wondering how I could physically do it." From minister to candidate Born in the northern French city of Amiens where he went to school and first met Trogneux, Macron studied at Paris's prestigious Lycée Henry IV before entering the Ecole National d'Administration, long a training ground for France's political elite. Appointed to President Francois Hollande's staff in 2012 after a successful career in the banking sector, Macron moved into the role of economy minister two years later, replacing the more left-wing Arnaud Montebourg. The beginner's guide to the French elections The beginner's guide to the French elections But his time in office was not without controversy. His determination to push through business-friendly, liberal reforms made him unpo[CENSORED]r on the government's own benches. With a backbench rebellion and government defeat looming, the so-called "Macron Law," which aimed to shake up the economy through labor reform, had to be forced through the National Assembly with the help of a controversial parliamentary measure. It led to several days of protest, but also to Macron's realization that it was not just the economy that needed to change, but the system itself. Announcing his resignation in August, he explained that he had "touched with his own finger, the limits of the system," before catapulting himself into the presidential race by launching his own party, En Marche! What he's pledged Macron's election manifesto promised to reform France's welfare and pensions systems. He has been vocal about the fight against terror and law and order, announcing proposals to increase defense spending, hire 10,000 more police officers and create a task force that would work around the clock to fight ISIS. Macron's policies had been aimed at wooing conservative voters, but he has also unveiled proposals to please the left too, such as his call for better pay for teachers working in poor, socially diverse areas. He is staunchly pro-European and has promised to put France back at the heart of the EU and defend the bloc's single market. He has also struck a diplomatic tone seeking constructive dialogue with US President Donald Trump, while expressing interest in working with Russia, Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia towards lasting political solutions in Syria and elsewhere. The frightening similarities between the US and French elections The frightening similarities between the US and French elections And he's managed to pull in support from across the political spectrum in France. In March, former Socialist Prime Minister Manuel Valls announced he would be voting for Macron rather than his own party's candidate, and after the results of the first round were announced, defeated Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon and Republicans Francois Fillon and Alain Juppe pledged their support and asked their voters to do the same. Crucially, Macron managed to attract a number of first-time voters of all ages. En Marche!, which was only created in September, now has more than 200,000 members and his meetings have attracted vast crowds. With his strong support base boosted by Republicans and Socialists, Macron was propelled into the Élysée Palace. The campaign may be over, but the real work is only just beginning. As Macron himself said: "A new page of our history" has been turned.

The platypus is arguably one of the most distinct animals on the planet. Here are a few things you might not have known about this quirky creature. 1. PLATYPUSES DON’T HAVE STOMACHS. Platypuses (platypodes and platypi are technically also correct, but much rarer in use) aren't the only animals to forgo an acid-producing part of the gut; spiny echidnas, and nearly a quarter of living fishes all have a gullet that connects directly to their intestines. 2. PLATYPUS BILLS GIVE THEM A “SIXTH SENSE.” A platypus’s bill has thousands of cells that give it a sort of sixth sense, allowing them to detect the electric fields generated by all living things. It’s so sensitive that the platypus can hunt with its eyes, ears, and nose all closed, relying entirely on the bill’s electrolocation. 3. PLATYPUSES USED TO BE GIANT. The ancient versions of a lot of modern animals, including penguins, were oversized monsters compared to the animals we know today—and platypuses are no different. In 2013, the discovery of a single tooth helped researchers identify a prehistoric platypus that was more than three feet long—double the size of the modern animal. 4. THE PLATYPUS IS A MONOTREME—WHICH MEANS “SINGLE HOLE” IN GREEK. Platypuses are one of only five species of extant monotremes—just them and four species of echidna—which split from the rest of the mammals 166 million years ago. These egg-laying mammals get their name from the hole that serves as both an anus and a urino-genital opening. In 2008, scientists deciphered the entire DNA of the duck-billed platypus and determined that, in accordance with the animal’s somewhat bizarre appearance, the platypus shared genes with reptiles, birds, and mammals. 5. PLATYPUSES NURSE WITHOUT NIPPLES. ISTOCK Although platypuses are born out of leathery eggs, the babies nurse from their mother. Female platypuses, however, don’t have nipples. Instead, their milk is released out of mammary gland ducts on their abdomen. The babies drink it up by sucking it out the folds of their mother's skin, or her fur. 6. MALE PLATYPUSES HAVE VENOMOUS SPURS. Platypuses are one of just a few venomous mammals, which is one of their more reptilian characteristics. But unlike snakes, a platypus’s venom isn’t in his teeth. Instead, males have a hollow spur on each hind leg from which venom is dispensed—but only sometimes. Although the spur itself is always there, the venom gland to which it is connected is seasonally-activated and only produces venom during mating season, indicating that its use is for fending off competing males. 7. PLATYPUSES HAVE RETRACTABLE WEBBING. Although they can only stay submerged in water for a few minutes—they are mammals, after all—platypuses are much better suited to scooting around in water than they are on land. Much like an otter, they prune their thick coat to add air bubbles that act as insulation in the cool rivers where they hunt. Out on land, the platypus's short limbs mean it has to exert 30 percent more energy than a similarly sized land-based mammal just to move around. All that said, they do have one particular adaptation to ease their terrestrial travel: The webbing between their front claws—a boon when paddling through streams—retracts when the platypus ambles up the riverbank to expose sharp claws. 8. SCIENTISTS THOUGHT THE FIRST KNOWN PLATYPUS WAS A HOAX. ISTOCK When the first platypus specimen was sent back to England from Australia in the late 18th century, the scientists who examined it thought that someone was playing a trick on them. "It naturally excites the idea of some deceptive preparation by artificial means," zoologist George Shaw wrote in the first scientific description of the platypus, published in 1799. One of the most remarkable and weird aspects of the platypus—its ability to lay eggs—wasn’t discovered for another 100 years. 9. PLATYPUSES USE GRAVEL AS MAKESHIFT TEETH. Platypuses don’t have teeth inside their bill, which makes it difficult to chew some of their favorite foods—but they have worked out a pretty ingenious solution. Along with worms, insects, shellfish, and whatever else these bottom-feeders scoop up to make a meal out of, the platypus also picks up gravel from the riverbed. The platypus packs it all into pouches in his cheek to carry it up to the surface where it munches away, using the bits of gravel as makeshift teeth to break up tougher food. 10. PLATYPUSES USE THEIR TAILS FOR ALL SORTS OF THINGS. Unlike beavers, which have very visually similar tails, platypuses don't use their tails to slap the water in warning, or even to move them through the water. Most of the time, the primary function of the platypus's tail is just to store up to nearly half of the animal's body fat in case of a food shortage. A female platypus also uses her tail to hold incubating eggs against her warm body

The world’s biggest triple is back this year with two new special editions—the 2021 Triumph Rocket 3 R Black and Rocket 3 GT Triple Black. Functionally unchanged from the standard Rocket 3s, these Black versions add premium finishes and two distinct paint treatments. 1. The Rocket 3 R Black and the Rocket 3 GT Triple Black have different ways of achieving peak blackness. The Rocket 3 R is all-black, while the GT Triple black has—you guessed it—black and two dark shades of gray. 2. Here’s a list of what gets black paint: Exhaust headers and heat shields Flyscreen finishers Front fender mounts Headlight bezels Mufflers and end caps Radiator cowl Rear bodywork finishers Seat finishers 3. Black anodization is used for these pieces: Aluminum subframe Bar-end mirrors (with machined detailing) Brake and clutch levers Brake pedal Fork lowers Handlebar clamps and risers Heel guards Passenger footrest hangers Rider and passenger footrests Shifter lever Shock rocker Sidestand Swingarm guard Triple clamps 4. Additionally, the intake cover gets crinkle-finished black powdercoating, and the front fender is carbon fiber. 5. As the function of the Rocket 3s is unchanged, we will refer you to our test of the two models. Click here for our test of the Rocket 3 R and Rocket 3 GT. Rocket 3 R 2021 custom 6. Triumph will produce 1000 examples of each Rocket 3 special edition. Just in case anyone doubts you own a genuine Black or Triple Black, a certificate of authenticity is included with each motorcycle. 7. These two 2021 Triumph Rocket 3 special editions will arrive at dealers in April. We don’t have prices yet. 2021 Triumph Rocket 3 R Black and Rocket 3 GT Triple Black Specs ENGINE Type: Longitudinal inline-3 Displacement: 2458cc Bore x stroke: 110.2 x 85.9mm Maximum power: 165 horsepower @ 6000 rpm Maximum torque: 163 ft-lbs @ 4000 rpm Fueling: EFI w/ ride-by-wire Valvetrain: DOHC Cooling: Liquid Transmission: 6-speed Clutch: Hydraulically actuated w/ assist function Final drive: Shaft CHASSIS Frame: Aluminum Front suspension; travel: Fully damping-adjustable Showa inverted 47mm cartridge fork; 4.7 inches Rear suspension; travel: Fully adjustable Showa piggyback shock; 4.2 inches Wheels: Cast aluminum Front wheel: 17 x 3.5 Rear wheel: 16 x 7.5 Tires: Avon Cobra Chrome Front tire: 150/80 x 17 Rear tire: 240/50 x 16 Front brakes: 320mm discs w/ radially mounted Brembo M4.30 Stylema 4-piston monobloc calipers Rear brake: 300mm disc w/ Brembo 4.32 4-piston monobloc caliper ABS: Cornering ABS standard DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES Wheelbase: 66.0 inches Rake: 27.9 degrees Trail: 5.3 inches Seat height: 30.4 inches (GT: 29.5 inches) Fuel tank capacity: 4.8 gallons Estimated fuel consumption: 32 mpg Curb weight: N/A

The Ban On The Use Of Smokeless Tobacco Products During The Ongoing Lockdown To Curb The Spread Of Coronavirus Is An Opportunity For Tobacco Users To Get Rid Of The Harmful Habit, Say Health Experts. PTI | Updated on: 02 May 2020, 03:11:51 PMFacebook Twitter Whats App Linked In SmokingThe Union Health Ministry had last month asked all states to prohibit the use and spitting of smokeless tobacco in public places to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. (Photo Credit: News Nation Photo) New Delhi: The ban on the use of smokeless tobacco products during the ongoing lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus is an opportunity for tobacco users to get rid of the harmful habit, say health experts. "The ongoing lockdown and the non-availability of the tobacco products can be turned into an opportunity to free the tobacco addicts from the habit," said Dr R K Jain, senior oncologist at Kota Medical College. PauseUnmute Fullscreen VDO.AI The Union Health Ministry had last month asked all states to prohibit the use and spitting of smokeless tobacco in public places to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. "Chewing smokeless tobacco products, paan masala and areca nut (supari) increases the production of saliva followed by a very strong urge to spit. Spitting in public places could enhance the spread of the COVID-19 virus," the ministry had said in a letter to chief secretaries of all states and union territories. Jain said the government's advisory on the tobacco products should be strictly enforced on the ground on the lines of the counties like Singapore and Malaysia and the violators should be heavily penalised. "There is a widespread culture of chewing paan masala and other tobacco products. It is not only harmful to the health of a person, but the saliva generated by these products can also cause problems for others like it can lead to the spread of coronavirus infection if a person is COVID-19 positive," said Dr Amit Goyal, an oncologist at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur, and Voice of Tobacco Victims (VOTV) State patron. He said it was the right time for the users of such products to get rid of them. A total of 14.1% of all adults (aged 15+) use smokeless tobacco in Rajasthan, while 13.2% of all adults smoke tobacco, as per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey-2.