Twitter removes nearly 1,000 accounts tied to China's campaign against Hong Kong protesters

Twitter has removed nearly 1,000 accounts and suspended thousands of others tied to a campaign by the Chinese government against protesters in Hong Kong, the company announced on Monday.

Twitter disclosed a “significant state-backed information operation” originating from within the People’s Republic of China (PRC) targeting the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. It removed 936 accounts and suspended approximately 200,000 accounts its investigation found were illegitimate.

“Covert, manipulative behaviors have no place on our service – they violate the fundamental principles on which our company is built,” Twitter said in a statement.

The company released an archive of offending tweets and accounts, many of which accused protesters of violence and being sponsored by western governments. “We don’t want you radical people in Hong Kong,” one deleted tweet said.

In addition, Twitter said it was banning all advertising from state-controlled news media entities. “Any affected accounts will be free to continue to use Twitter to engage in public conversation, just not our advertising products,” it said, adding that the ban would not apply to entities that are taxpayer-funded but independent.

De Niro's company sues ex-employee for $6m for embezzlement and Netflix bingeing

Chase Robinson, who until recently held a senior role in Robert De Niro’s film production company, has been sued by her employer for $6m.

According to Variety, who have seen papers filed in a state court on Saturday, Robinson – whose most recent position was vice-president of production and finance at Canal Productions – is accused of embezzling money and wasting time during office hours watching television shows.

The suit states that Robinson, who left the company in April on a $300,000 annual salary amid growing concerns of “corporate sabotage”, abused expense accounts to pay restaurant and hotel bills and used millions of De Niro’s own frequent flyer miles for personal trips.

It continues to allege that Robinson wasted “astronomical amounts of time” watching Netflix during work hours, including 55 episodes of Friends during one four-day period in January. Another four-day period saw her view 20 episodes of Arrested Development and 10 of Schitt’s Creek.

The suit states: “Watching shows on Netflix was not in any way part of or related to the duties and responsibilities of Robinson’s employment and, on information and belief, was done for her personal entertainment, amusement and pleasure at times when she was being paid to work.”

Don’t Burn Trees to Fight Climate Change—Let Them Grow

Of all the solutions to climate change, ones that involve trees make people the happiest. Earlier this year, when a Swiss study announced that planting 1.2 trillion trees might cancel out a decade’s worth of carbon emissions, people swooned (at least on Twitter). And last month, when Ethiopian officials announced that twenty-three million of their citizens had planted three hundred and fifty million trees in a single day, the swooning intensified. Someone tweeted, “This should be like the ice bucket challenge thing.”

So it may surprise you to learn that, at the moment, the main way in which the world employs trees to fight climate change is by cutting them down and burning them. Across much of Europe, countries and utilities are meeting their carbon-reduction targets by importing wood pellets from the southeastern United States and burning them in place of coal: giant ships keep up a steady flow of wood across the Atlantic. “Biomass makes up fifty per cent of the renewables mix in the E.U.,” Rita Frost, a campaigner for the Dogwood Alliance, a nonprofit organization based in Asheville, North Carolina, told me. And the practice could be on the rise in the United States, where new renewable-energy targets proposed by some Democrats and Republicans in Congress, as well as by the E.P.A., treat “biomass”—fuels derived from plants—as “carbon-neutral,” much to the pleasure of the forestry industry. “Big logging groups are up on Capitol Hill working hard,” Alexandra Wisner, the associate director of the Rachel Carson Council, told me, when I spoke with her recently.

The story of how this happened begins with good intentions. As concern about climate change rose during the nineteen-nineties, back when solar power, for instance, cost ten times what it does now, people casting about for alternatives to fossil fuels looked to trees. Trees, of course, are carbon—when you burn them you release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. But the logic went like this: if you cut down a tree, another will grow in its place. And, as that tree grows, it will suck up carbon from the atmosphere—so, in carbon terms, it should be a wash. In 2009, Middlebury College, where I teach, was lauded for replacing its oil-fired boilers with a small biomass plant; I remember how proud the students who first presented the idea to the board of trustees were.

As the climate warms, how much, and how quickly, will Earth's glaciers melt?

"If we don't have it, we don't need it," pronounces Daniel Fagre as we throw on our backpacks. We're armed with crampons, ice axes, rope, GPS receivers, and bear spray to ward off grizzlies, and we're trudging toward Sperry Glacier in Glacier National Park, Montana. I fall in step with Fagre and two other research scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey Global Change Research Program. They're doing what they've been doing for more than a decade: measuring how the park's storied glaciers are melting.

So far, the results have been positively chilling. When President Taft created Glacier National Park in 1910, it was home to an estimated 150 glaciers. Since then the number has decreased to fewer than 30, and most of those remaining have shrunk in area by two-thirds. Fagre predicts that within 30 years most if not all of the park's namesake glaciers will disappear.

"Things that normally happen in geologic time are happening during the span of a human lifetime," says Fagre. "It's like watching the Statue of Liberty melt."

Scientists who assess the planet's health see indisputable evidence that Earth has been getting warmer, in some cases rapidly. Most believe that human activity, in particular the burning of fossil fuels and the resulting buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, have influenced this warming trend. In the past decade scientists have documented record-high average annual surface temperatures and have been observing other signs of change all over the planet: in the distribution of ice, and in the salinity, levels, and temperatures of the oceans.

Couple face up to six years in jail for taking sand from Italian beach

 


We've all been tempted to bring a little bit of paradise home from our holidays. But the urge has backfired on a French couple, who are facing up to six years in prison for removing sand from a beach in Sardinia, where they had been on vacation. The Italian island's white sand is protected, and tourists face fines and even jail time for removing it from local beaches -- but the couple say they did not realize they were committing a crime.
 Police in the northern city of Porto Torres found the sand while making routine checks on cars waiting to board a ferry to Toulon in southern France. They spotted some bottles filled with sand through the window of the car, and arrested the couple, a man and woman in their 40s, police told us.

 Overall, 14 plastic bottles containing around 40 kilograms (88 pounds) of white sand were seized, police said. The couple were reported to a court in the city of Sassari for aggravated theft and they risk a fine of up to €3,000 ($3,300) and between one and six years' imprisonment.

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How many pairs of eyeglasses do you need? That depends on your vision needs, your vision insurance, your budget – and even your fashion sense.Most people get prescription eyeglasses to correct their vision, but other specialty eyewear includes computer glasses to reduce digital eye strain, polarized sunglasses to reduce glare and block harmful ultraviolet rays, readers to help you see up close, and ski goggles and sports glasses for when you’re on the slopes or riding your motorcycle.

Amidst all the technology and vision optimization, purchasing a pair of glasses remains a very personal decision. The glasses you buy need to feel good, reflect your attitude towards life – even enrich it – and accommodate your visual habits. And let's not forget: glasses should also reflect your personal style. Asking how many glasses you should have is just as personal as asking how many shoes you need.



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Hong Kong protesters attempt to restore peace after weeks of violence

Hundreds of thousands of peaceful protesters of all ages returned to the streets of Hong Kong Sunday, in a massive show of solidarity for a movement that appeared on the verge of losing popular support.

Protesters defied torrential rain, a police ban and menacing threats from the Chinese government to come back out for the 11th consecutive weekend of mass demonstrations. Organizers claimed as many as 1.7 million people joined the rally, with protesters thronging westwards from Victoria Park through the downtown areas, transforming much of the city center into a sea of slow moving umbrellas.
A police estimate put the number of people at the rally's starting point at 128,000. CNN cannot independently confirm either figure.

Aerial shots show wide paths and parkways crammed full with families, young people and seniors.
The demonstration was widely viewed as a test of the movement's durability following weeks of escalating violence between police and protesters. One of the slogans of the march was "Hong Kongers Assemble: Peaceful, Rational, and Non-Violent Protesters Stand Out."
The rally was organized by the Civil Human Rights Front, a more traditional pro-democracy organization responsible for arranging two huge peaceful marches in June which attracted hundreds of thousands of participants.
Police had not given permission for protesters to march out of the park to Chater Garden in Central District as planned. But by 6 p.m. local time protesters had congested several main roads through the city's main shopping area of Causeway Bay and some had pushed on to Admiralty district, near to the city's Legislative Council offices.

What antibiotics are doing to your gut - and how your body can fight back

The days when antibiotics were doled out like Smarties for every cough and sniffle are long gone. Overall, prescription rates for antibiotics have dropped dramatically in the last few years as doctors try and combat the rising problem of antimicrobial resistance.

Last week, researchers warned that antibiotics may actually harm children who take them. Scientists at the University of Oxford and Public Health England found that preschoolers who take antibiotics for coughs and colds are more likely to get ill in the future.

Their study, published in the latest issue of the British Journal of General Practice, looked at the data from 250,000 children aged one to five and found that those who had more than two courses of antibiotics from their GP were 30 per cent more likely to visit a doctor or spend time in hospital. Scientists believe the drugs may kill beneficial bacteria in the gut which help keep other bugs and germs in check.

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, says: “This research drives home how important is it for patients – and particularly the parents of young children – to understand that antibiotics do not work for every infection and should not be prescribed for the most common childhood conditions such as colds, coughs, ear infections and sore throats, which are usually caused by viruses.”

Nigerian medical doctor stabbed to death by Ukrainian lady with her father's help

 A young Nigerian medical doctor has died after being stabbed by a lady from Ukraine with the support of her father. Gbolade Ibukun Ejemai was stabbed by a lady identified as Victoria Popravko after which her father hit him on the head with a hammer in Ukraine. According to reports, Gbolade was in a relationship with Victoria, a mother-of-two. They got into an argument and she went for a weapon. Narrating how Gbolade was stabbed to death, Dr. Ajayi, a friend of the deceased, said: "Victoria Popravko invited Gbolade Ejemai over to her house on on Friday, August 8, 2019, to talk things over in the morning. "They’ve had some prior discussions which nobody really knew for sure as they were in a relationship.

He went over to hers, it wasn’t his first time visiting her but turned out to be his last. "They got into some arguments and one thing led to another, she stabbed him in his abdomen, twice, puncturing a couple of organs and landing him in coma. He lost about 40% of his blood volume and that led him to a very critical condition. "He was taken in for the first surgery on the same day and we waited almost 24 hours for him to get conscious. On Sunday, he opened his eyes and was able to recognize people. "Then he told his side of the story about how Victoria’s father realized that he wasn’t dead after the stab wound and went ahead to hit him with a hammer on his head. "We didn’t know about the hammer and its impact until Gbolade himself woke up and spoke up. We were hoping for a miracle and praying he got better until Monday when he developed a complication and had to be operated on the second time "He was taken in for the second surgery and it went well.

He didn’t come conscious though. By Tuesday afternoon, he gave up the ghost." Victoria was arrested at the scene of the incident but has now been released on bail less than 24 hours later because "she had two kids to cater for" and they couldn’t keep her until the investigation was done and over with Lamenting the injustice, Dr. Ajayi said: "This is unfair judgement because she was caught at a murder scene. It is a serious case and we need to put our voices together to avenge our brother’s death. We will not be silenced! We will not be cheated! Gbolade deserves justice and we can make it happen."

Gun Control: Why It Isn’t As Simple As We All Wish It Could Be

During the 2010s there have been 351 deaths from mass shootings in the US. Gun control has been a big debate in the US government and has determined the fates of political leaders. But why is it so hard to control, and why can’t the US just implement a strict gun ban?

For those living in the UK it seems unfathomable to hear news reports about mass shootings taking place around the world and in particular the United States. It's difficult to comprehend why people want/need guns considering a variety of countries have very strict gun laws whilst on the other side of the pond they consider it an important, almost integral, part of their lives.

Gun control has been a very serious and very real debate in the US for many years now with many politicians and celebrities advocating for different sides. As easy it seems to place a total ban on guns, sadly there’s no one answer to the debate. Some feel as though it's their god-given right to have those guns as much as others think it’s their right to make a cup of coffee each morning - and that is why this argument is so messy. To begin the debate it has to start with the matter of culture and then, perspective. For anyone reading this who doesn’t live in the US or isn’t aware of the culture difference then you must first understand why it is they want to avoid bans and restrictions.

Going back to the 2000s when George W. Bush was President of the United States, his Vice President Al Gore began advocating for stricter gun laws. Al Gore in his younger days never fought for gun safety after believing that guns didn’t pose a national threat to public safety. The turning point in his political stance on the debate came one month after the Columbine High School shooting, where 13 people died. After that, he became a prime advocate for change and in turn became the key target of the National Rifle Association (NRA). The famous Charlton Heston speech was given at the time of him being the president of the NRA; “for everyone who can hear the sound of my voice, to hear and to heed and especially for you Mr [Al] Gore, [you can take it] from my cold dead hands”. The historic speech caused eruption amongst those listening in front of Heston putting their hands together and cheering. The impact was huge to have the Hollywood legend at the forefront of the NRA showing his support for guns and since then the NRA has become a major political force with over five million members and even more capital. It can make or break politicians that either stand with or against the use of guns. Today there are many politicians and celebrities who have shown support for the organisation, including Chuck Norris, Whoopi Goldberg and the current President of the United States who was given $30 million USD during his 2016 presidential campaign to help him get elected.

Denmark Offers to Buy U.S.

After rebuffing Donald J. Trump’s hypothetical proposal to purchase Greenland, the government of Denmark has announced that it would be interested in buying the United States instead.

“As we have stated, Greenland is not for sale,” a spokesperson for the Danish government said on Friday. “We have noted, however, that during the Trump regime pretty much everything in the United States, including its government, has most definitely been for sale.”

“Denmark would be interested in purchasing the United States in its entirety, with the exception of its government,” the spokesperson added.

A key provision of the purchase offer, the spokesperson said, would be the relocation of Donald Trump to another country “to be determined,” with Russia and North Korea cited as possible destinations.

If Denmark’s bid for the United States is accepted, the Scandinavian nation has ambitious plans for its new acquisition. “We believe that, by giving the U.S. an educational system and national health care, it could be transformed from a vast land mass into a great nation,” the spokesperson said.

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'Today we honor you King'- Lauren London remembers her late partner Nipsey Hussle on his 34th birthday

Lauren London, the partner of late American rapper, Nipsey Hussle, who was murdered on March 31st, 2019, has remembered him on his first posthumous birthday



The rapper would have been 34 today, August 15. His untimely death left the Hip-pop World heartbroken.

Ohio teen who had 10,000 ammo rounds arrested for threatening ‘every’ agent, FBI says

An Ohio teen was arrested on Wednesday after making a number of threats to law enforcement online, officials say.

The FBI first started investigating Justin Olsen, 18, in February when a user with the handle “ArmyOfChrist” posted threats in the chat room iFunny, according to an affidavit obtained by The Vindicator. The account was eventually traced back to Olsen’s computer, the affidavit states. After his arrest, Olsen admitted to posting under the screen name, the FBI said.

Officials say ArmyOfChrist posted about his support of mass shootings as well as attacks on Planned Parenthood. In June, ArmyOfChrist wrote “in conclusion, shoot every federal agent on [site],” during a discussion with another user about the 1993 siege on a Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, according to the affidavit.

Shooting of two ICE offices in San Antonio was a ‘targeted attack,’ FBI officials say

FBI officials say shootings of two offices for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in San Antonio early Tuesday morning were a “targeted attack” against employees, media outlets report.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs said an unknown number of shooters fired bullets at two neighboring ICE offices where federal employees were still at work about 3 a.m., according to KSAT.

No injuries were reported, and police were still looking for suspects, media outlets report.

The shots were potentially fired from across an interstate, shattering windows, police said, according to the San Antonio Express News.

Though the offices are located in commercial buildings with other businesses, Combs said it was obviously an attack on ICE officials, and bullets nearly hit a federal official, according to KSAT.

“I don’t think there is a question that they knew which floor the ICE office is on,” Combs said at a news conference, according to KSAT. “To fire indiscriminately into any building is not an act of a protest but an act of violence.”