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Uber in discussions to raise capital for major Robotaxi expansion

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Uber Uber.n is in talks with private companies and banks to secure funds to build the Robotaxi business, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi is betting on the massive deployment of early, mass-balled technology.

Uber, which offers Robotaxis from Waymo, owned by Alphabet googl.o, is strengthening its foothold in the autonomous taxi industry through partnerships with automakers such as Volkswagen Vowg.DE and Lucid Lcid.o, just as Tesla TSLA.O is seeking to flee.

Khosrowshahi on Wednesday proposed a partnership as part of a massive plan that includes three Robotaxi business models. Such vehicles share revenues with partners, fleet operators, and own licensed software for autonomous driving technology.

“We’re talking to private equity players. We talked to banks,” the CEO said. “Provement of our revenue model, proven how much these cars can generate per day can bring a lot of money around.”

For now, Uber said it plans to fund its deployment using the “slack” portion of about $7 billion a year. He also said it could potentially sell minority stakes in the company to help with the expansion.

Analysts say the deployment of Mass Robotaxi could reduce operating costs for driver-dependent Uber and increase profitability.

The company offers Waymo Robotaxis on its ride apps in Austin, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia. In April, Uber signed a contract with Volkswagen for thousands of autonomous electric vans in the United States over the next decade.

It also attacked a $300 million partnership in July, creating its EV Startup Lucid and allowing it to deploy more than 20,000 autonomous taxis with Nuro’s autonomous driving technology for over six years.

Despite strong regulatory scrutiny, widespread recruitment suspicions, and high costs forcing many businesses to close, Tesla and Waymo were pushing to expand Robotakshi services.

Waymo attended five US cities, including San Francisco, and Tesla launched its limited Robotaki service in Austin in June and launched its ride business in the Bay Area last month.

Uber said the trend in demand in Austin or San Francisco has not yet changed since Tesla services were launched in the cities.

“For many of these companies, this seems to be a valuable effort… because there are high expectations for the gross addressable market for the Robotaxi industry.”

Reported by Akash Srram in Bengali. Edited by Aditya Soni, Shinjini Ganguli and Lincoln Feast.

Trump collects 100% tariffs on computer chips and semiconductors

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President Donald Trump said he plans to impose 100% tariffs on computer chips and semiconductors, with the exception of companies committed to building the US.

Trump said companies such as Apple have pledged to build in the US will be spared tariffs. He did not provide details on when the tariffs would come into effect.

“If it’s built in the United States, there’s no fee. Even though you’re building it and haven’t produced it yet in terms of many jobs… there’s no fee.”

Customs on computer chips and semiconductors can raise prices for products such as personal computers, smartphones, electric cars, and video game consoles. In April, Nvidia announced plans to fully manufacture AI supercomputers for the first time, pledging to build an AI supercomputer in Texas with advanced chips for Arizona and AI supercomputers.

The White House praised Nvidia’s decision as “effective in Trump’s actions.”

Trump currently places tariffs in a variety of sectors, including 50% of steel, aluminum and copper and 25% of imported cars. Dozens of countries are also facing country-specific tariffs first announced on April 2, which has been called the Day of Liberation by Trump.

Trump says he has a “good chance” to meet Putin, but there is no “breakthrough” in Witkov’s Moscow trip

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US President Donald Trump said Wednesday there was a “very good prospect” for a summit meeting with Russia, which could end the war in Ukraine.

“We had some very good talks with President Putin today. The end, the end of the road, the end of that road, etc., there’s a very good chance that we’ll end up.” “The road is long and long, but there’s a good chance that a meeting will be held soon,” he said.

Trump’s comments followed a Moscow meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US envoy Steve Witkov, but Trump said there was no “breakthrough” between the two men and when asked about the timeline of the deal, he said “I was disappointed with this.”

Earlier, after the Putin Witkov meeting, Trump called to European leaders and said he wanted to meet Putin soon, and a trilateral meeting between the Russian leader and Ukrainian President Voldy Zelensky continued. European government sources also confirmed the contents of the call.

Two White House officials told CNN that Putin proposed to meet with Trump in person and face to face with Witkov in Moscow.

According to two White House officials, Trump’s aides quickly began planning for these meetings. While a presidential trip and a major sit-in with the two world leaders will usually take time to plan, these officials pointed out that Trump is urging his team to move faster.

The location has not been resolved, but several options are being discussed, according to the White House. He said the speech could occur next week or within the next two weeks.

“The Russians have expressed their desire to meet President Trump, and the president is open to meeting both Putin and Zelensky. President Trump hopes to end this brutal war,” White House press chief Caroline Leavitt said in a statement.

Putin has been largely exiled by Western leaders following the decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The longtime Russian leader last met with the US president in 2021 when he met President Joe Biden in Geneva, Switzerland.

Trump has repeatedly said he will meet with Putin since returning to the White House in January, but the announcement on Wednesday looked more specific than his previous comments.

The Putin Witkov conference, which Russian state media said lasted about three hours, came after an annoyed Trump struck a country that buys Russian oil with 100% tariffs after imposing a deadline in Moscow to agree to a ceasefire or agree to strict secondary sanctions.

Trump wrote on social media that “great progress has been made” at a meeting between Witkov and Putin on Wednesday.

It was unclear whether the Trump administration would follow the threat of slapping new sanctions in Moscow if no ceasefire has been agreed by later this week.

Earlier on Wednesday, White House officials said the secondary sanctions against Russia are “still expected to be implemented on Friday.”

But speaking to the Fox business later Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump will decide whether to impose secondary sanctions within the next 24-36 hours.

Losing customers would be painful as oil and gas revenues are an important source of cash for the Kremlin, accounting for about a quarter of the Russian government budget.

Rubio also said following Witkov’s meeting, the United States now has a better understanding of the conditions under which Russia is ready to end the battle.

“For the first time since this administration began, there are probably a few concrete examples of the kinds of things Russia is looking for to end the war,” Rubio said.

The Kremlin described the Witkov and Putin meeting as “constructive and useful,” according to Russian national media Tass.

“Putin has given the US some signals about the issue of Ukraine, and we have also received corresponding signals from President Trump,” state media outlet Leah Novosti reported, citing the Kremlin.

The Kremlin will release more information about what was discussed after Witkov reported to Trump, Leah said in a social media post.

Speaking to Trump following the Witkov Putin meeting, Zelensky said, “Russia now appears to be heading for a ceasefire.”

“The pressure on Russia is working. But the main thing is that they don’t deceive us with details. There is no us or the US,” the Ukrainian leader said in a nightly video address to the country.

Earlier in the day, the US envoy was greeted at the Moscow airport by Russian investment envoy Kiril Dmitriev. A video posted later by the video showed Witkov shaking hands with Putin before their meeting.

Trump became increasingly anxious at resistance to Russia’s peace efforts. Since the last meeting between Witkov and Putin in April, Russia has stepped up its attacks on Ukraine, attacking the city with onslaught of missiles and drones.

Trump called the Russian attack “disgusting” and accused Putin of pitching “Burshu*T” in a tense phone conversation.

A document posted on the White House website states that hours after the meeting in Moscow, Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on India as a punishment for Russian oil imports.

Earlier this week, Trump threatened with new tariffs, saying that India was supporting Russia’s wage war in Ukraine.

“India not only buys a lot of Russian oil, but also sells it in the open market for a lot of money. They don’t care about the number of Ukrainian people killed in Russian war machines,” he wrote on social media.

Ukraine was shaking again after being attacked by Russia across the country overnight on Wednesday, as diplomacy was ongoing in the Kremlin.

At least six people were killed in a strike 24 hours before Wednesday morning by Moscow.

Zelensky condemned the attack on the centre, where two people were killed, and four children called “the military sense zero” and “just intended to instill fear.”

According to Ukrainian President Volodymia Zelensky, the prosecutor was working in Zapolisia, Ukraine on August 6, 2025 at the site of the Russian strike in Zapolisia, Ukraine.

According to the country’s Energy Ministry, gas compressor stations and Azerbaijan energy imports were also attacked overnight.

The gas transmission facility in the town of Novosilsuke, near the border with Romania in Ukraine’s South Odesa region, was targeted by dozens of strike drones, the ministry said.

“Hundreds of families have no gas,” Zelensky said in a statement. “This was a deliberate blow to preparing for the heating season, like all Russian strikes against our energy infrastructure.”

Meanwhile, Ukraine said Wednesday morning that the US State Department had signed a $200 million deal that would allow partners to purchase military supplies, including technical support for heavy artillery. The US has not commented yet.

On Tuesday, Zelensky welcomed pledges from more than $1 billion from NATO members through the initiative to buy US arms in Kiev by four Ukraine European allies (Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Sweden).

This story has been updated in development.

MLB’s first female referee, Jen Pawol, makes baseball history

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Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with new information

Jen Paul continues to make history as a female baseball umpire.

Announced by Major League Baseball on Wednesday, Paul was called up as part of the five-team referee of the Atlanta Brave Smiami Marlins series this weekend, featuring doubleheaders on Saturday, becoming the first female referee in the regular season MLB game.

Pawol will be behind the plate for the Braves and Marlins series finale at Truist Park in Atlanta on Sunday, August 10th. She works with the crew and each of the final three games of the series.

Major League Baseball calls are quite a bit after other professional sports leagues have broken down barriers to female officials and their own referees and gender. The first full-time female official to work in professional sports games was Violet Palmer in 1997. He worked at the Dallas Maverick and the then Vancouver Grizzlies Games and became the NBA’s first female referee.

Sarah Thomas became the first female employee of the NFL in 2015 when she served as line judge for the Kansas City Chiefs’ road game with the Houston Astros. Thomas promoted history in the NFL six years later, becoming the first woman to host the Super Bowl in 2021.

Pointed out by MLB.com, Pawol began his baseball umpire career with rookie ball in 2016 and raised the minor league rank to Triple A in 2023. In the same season, Paul made history by becoming the first woman to judge the Triple A Championship Game.

Here’s what you need to know about Pawol:

Who is Jen Paul?

Pawol, 47, came from a softball background as he played softball at Hofstra University and was the three-time Colonial Athletic Association All-Conference Team selection as a Pride catcher. She was a member of the US Women’s Softball Team World Championship team in 2001.

The New Jersey native became a referee when he worked in a college softball game in 2010 and moved to baseball in 2016 when he was employed in the Gulf League after the completion of the umpire training academy.

She has MLB experience on her resume as she worked in the spring training game for the Houston Astros vs. Washington Nationals in 2024. Starting with 3 base of that game, Pawol became the first female referee in a spring training game since Ria Cortesio did that in 2007.

“We’re very grateful for everyone’s enthusiasm. Your reception on the field tonight was very special,” Pawol said after umpireing in 2024 her first MLB Spring Training Game. “Congratulations and welcomed me along with my (referee) partner player. I already knew a lot of players on the field.

Pawol, which MLB.com points out, is one of 17 current Triple-A referees who are eligible to replace a major league match if one of the MLB referees goes on vacation or something like that.

When did Jen Paul make her MLB referee debut?

Pawol is scheduled to make his MLB referee debut on Saturday in Game 1 of The Braves-Marlins Doubleheader. She will be working plates for the first time in the majors on Sunday, the series finale.

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Oaxaca Slip-On: Mexico state threatens legal action by condemning adidas’ cultural appropriation over new shoes

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Mexico’s state of Oaxaca is threatening legal action against adidas and denounces shoe companies for cultural appropriation of newly launched shoes that resemble traditional handmade sandals.

“Oaxaca Slip-On” was billed as an original collaboration between American designers Willy Chavalia and Adidas, and features woven leather surfaces, open heels and thick rubber soles.

Oaxacan Governor Salomon Jala Cruz accused her of copying Yalarag’s designs on Wednesday without seeking permission or celebrating the community. He also called for Adidas to withdraw his shoes, engage in discussions with Indigenous communities, and publicly recognize Yararag as the founder of the design.

“This is not just about design, it is about the culture, history and identity of the original (people) and is not allowed to be treated as a product,” he said in a video posted to X.

He said he has pledged “legal support” for Villa Hidalgo Yaralagh and has already spoken with members of the community about taking action against the footwear company.

Adidas did not immediately respond to a CNN request for comments. Neither has issued an official statement addressing the controversy.

One option for the Oaxacan government is to file a formal complaint with Mexico’s federal government agency, Mexico’s Mexican government agency, the IMPI, to protect Mexico’s intellectual property.

An impeachment that supports and controls Oaxaca could prevent adidas from selling shoes in Mexico.

The shoes are not yet sold to the public, but images are widely available online.

Chabaria is known for incorporating Mexican-American identity into his fashion work. CNN reached out to him for comment.

The conflict adds to an increasing number of cases in Mexico, where indigenous communities accused international designers and brands of replicating work without permission.

In recent years, companies such as Zara, Anthropologie and Patowl have faced similar backlash against designs and motifs that are perceived to resemble traditional works.

In response, Mexico passed a law that punished the misuse of indigenous cultural expressions, with large fines and sentences.

Have Social Security benefits been reduced? This is what’s really happening

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Whether you rely on Social Security for some, most or all of your retirement income, you probably don’t want to see that monthly salary shrink. Therefore, if you are hearing about profit reductions in the news, you may have an unpleasant feeling in your stomach hole.

At this point, many retirees and workers are worried about reducing Social Security. And some even resign from reducing those profits.

But it’s social security actually Do you want to cut profits or is it hype? Let’s dig deeper.

What will happen to Social Security finances?

Social Security relies primarily on payroll tax revenue to cover costs. However, over the next few years, that revenue stream is expected to decrease due to a shrinking labor force.

The program also has a trust fund that invests in adding revenue. These trust funds will help the program keep up with its planned profits for a considerable number of years until the program drys out.

The latest trustee report shows that Social Security’s Old Age and Survivor Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund may have run out of money by 2033. At that point, the program expects to only be paid 77% of the benefits.

If the program combines the OASI fund and the Disability Insurance Fund, benefits reductions will not be on the table until 2034. At that point, Social Security will be in a position to pay 81% of the benefits.

Based on these figures, reducing profits may seem like a natural conclusion. But that’s not necessarily something you’ll find in the store.

Legislators can work to prevent social security cuts

Social Security has previously faced the potential for profit reductions. Want to guess how many times the program actually reduced its profits? zero.

That’s because lawmakers have always been able to find ways to prevent social security cuts. And there’s no reason to think they won’t try to do the same now.

But they’re closing things up badly. At this point, it appears that lawmakers have not prioritized solutions, less than a decade after the potential cuts. Additionally, some solutions can take time in stages.

For example, one option to prevent reductions is to push back full age after retirement. Those born after 1960 are now 67 years old, but lawmakers are talking about bringing it back to 68 or 69.

If that’s the change they want to make, they will have to make it right away. This is because there are many older workers today in cusp, who are at full retirement age.

Certainly, if this change occurs, there will probably be a long phase-introduction (or ideally that’s what happens) so as not to raise retirement plans for people in their 60s. However, for this reason lawmakers cannot afford to spend time.

What to expect from social security?

So let’s go back to the important questions. Is social security a myth? No – they’re more than possible.

Are they given? No, it’s not.

Whether you’re working or leaving, your best option is to expect the best while making the worst plans. That means increasing savings if you are still employed, or if you are retiring and don’t have many expenses you can cut, or if you are considering some kind of job.

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Trump and Putin will be able to meet early next week: Report

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President Donald Trump will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in person next week, days after Putin’s Trump-imposed deadline to end the war in Ukraine, according to reports.

Trump met with Putin, and later the New York Times reported first, adding that the plan was disclosed on July 6th in a call with European leaders.

The White House did not confirm the meeting, but showed that the “Russians” were seeking the meeting.

“As President Trump said today in the true social terms, great progress has been made in the special envoy group convention with Putin,” White House spokesman Caroline Leavitt said in a statement. “The Russians have expressed their desire to meet President Trump, and the president is open to meeting both Putin and Zelensky. President Trump hopes that this brutal war will be over.”

The Washington Post later reported that a meeting between Trump and Putin would take place.

At a press conference with Apple CEO Tim Cook on July 6, Trump was asked if a summit between Zelensky and Putin is expected to occur — a meeting that Trump said would promote earlier.

“There’s a good chance that a meeting will be held soon,” Trump said, adding a word of caution.

“I was disappointed before,” he said.

On July 28, Trump announced that he would either give Russia 10-12 days to end the three-year war in Ukraine, or face “severe tariffs.” That deadline will fall on August 8th.

Trump has threatened to impose “secondary tariffs” of up to 100% on countries that trade with Russia, particularly those in the energy sector. The president signed an executive order that imposes an additional 25% tariff on imports from India in retaliation for Indian oil imports, doubled India’s US tariff rate to 50%. It will be set to take effect on August 7th.

Trump’s August 6th move marks the first time when the president deploys so-called “secondary tariffs” on his Russian trading partners.

Trump became increasingly panicked by the Russian leaders when Putin said he was “absolutely crazy” and Putin “absolutely crazy” after Russia chatted with Putin for two hours to launch a barrage of 367 drones and missiles in a Ukrainian city a week later, seeking the end of the war.

White House envoy Steve Witkov met with Putin in Moscow on August 6 in the Trump administration’s efforts to persuade Russian leaders to end the fight in Ukraine ahead of the deadline.

Contributor: Joey Garrison, USA Today; Reuters

The sun is spitting out the sun’s flares on the earth. This is what happens next.

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After several weeks of activity declined, the sun erupted with three powerful flares a day. It could turn solar flares towards the Earth, affecting electronics, allowing you to see the aurora.

According to Space.com and Earthky, these solar radiation explosions, known as coronal mass emissions or CME, came from the AR4168 Sunspot area on August 3rd and 4th. On August 5th, he fired his most powerful explosion, the M4.4 class flare. Space.com reports that the explosion will provide the opportunity to see the aurora in Maine and Michigan on August 8th.

How Earth’s atmosphere protects it from solar flares

Can’t view the graphics? Click here to see them.

Although the important “space weather” effect has not been tested so far, it is possible that one flare sent a small burst towards the Earth. Space Physics students and Aurora Chaser Vincent Ledvina posted that there is a 12% chance of being shocked and could arrive around midnight adjusted universal time on August 7th.

The Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic fields protect us from most of the solar radiation, so solar flares are unlikely to directly harm people and animals on the surface. However, bursts can cause problems for technology and infrastructure.

The effect of solar flare on the Earth

Another area of some active sunspots, AR3038 can also emit more of the Multi Solar flare, the second most powerful of the five categories. According to NASA, the strongest solar flare is an X-class explosion. The M-class flares are ten times more than the X-class flares, but they are followed by C-class, B-class, and A-class flares, which are too weak to have a major impact on the Earth.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration divides solar flares into these five categories. The intensity of the x-rays they emit determines their identification. According to Space.com, letters in each class show a 10-fold increase in energy production, similar to the Richter scale used to measure earthquake intensity. The flare can last for a few minutes to several hours and can be seen as bright spots of the sun from the telescope.

  • A: Minimum flare
  • B: 10 times stronger than a
  • C: 10 times stronger than b
  • M: 10 times stronger than c
  • X: 10 times stronger than m

George Petras’ contribution

NASA’s Butch Willmore retires from the Astronaut Squadron after spending nine months in space

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Astronaut Butch Wilmore has retired from NASA less than five months after returning from a problematic test mission that took him on the International Space Station much longer than expected, the space agency announced Wednesday.

Wilmore, along with NASA astronaut Snie Williams, piloted the first crew of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft last year. The mission attracted global attention when the spacecraft was experiencing some serious problems on its way to the thruster station.

Williams and Wilmore were expected to stay in orbit for about eight days. However, NASA and Boeing spent several weeks identifying what went wrong with the vehicle and assessing whether Starliner was safe to take the astronaut home.

The space agency ultimately decided to return the duo to Earth on a Starliner. NASA announced last August that Williams and Wilmore would be in the rotation of the crew of the upcoming International Space Station alongside two other astronauts on the SpaceX Crew 9 mission, and will be riding in orbital labs for several more months.

Williams and Wilmore eventually returned home in March. Astronauts live on space stations on a daily basis for more than six months when working on staff rotation missions, so it is not uncommon for them to stay in such orbits.

Astronauts Suni Williams (left) and Butch Willmore Train will train trains at NASA's Johnson Space Center in 2022.

Both astronauts have maintained a fully prepared position for extended stays in space, and each states they understand the risks and uncertainties associated with testing to fly a spacecraft for the first time.

Williams and Wilmore also repeatedly sought to be “forsaken,” “stuck,” or “stuck” in space.

“It was a story from day one. I’m stuck, abandoned, stuck. And I got it. “Help change the story. Let’s change preparation and commitment despite what you’ve been hearing. That’s what we like.”

Wilmore’s “content on NASA’s mission and dedication to human space exploration are truly exemplary,” said Steve Corner, representative director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where astronauts are on the train.

“His lasting and flashy legacy,” Koerner added.

Wilmore’s departure from NASA follows the example set up by Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, two astronauts who piloted the first crew test flight of SpaceX’s crew Dragon Capsule in 2020.

Wilmore, a naval officer and test pilot who served on 21 combat missions, joined NASA’s Corps of Astronauts in 2000.

He flew to three missions during his 25 years of service, including the Space Shuttle Atlantis mission and the trip to the space station of a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

In particular, when he returned to Earth with SpaceX capsules in March, Wilmore said that if given the opportunity, he would theoretically fly to one of Boeing’s Starliner capsules.

“We’ll fix all the issues we encounter. We’ll fix them. We’ll make them work,” Wilmore said at a March 31 press conference. “So I’m on my heartbeat.”

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National Guard Supports Ice in 20 States with Mandatory Disposals

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Florida State Guard personnel are replacing the 200 Marines deployed in July with “management, administrative, logistics and logistics” duties at ice facilities.

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  • The 1,700-person National Guard will help handle detainees in more than 12 states.
  • Security guard duties include wiping DNA, fingerprinting and personal transport.

WASHINGTON – Over dozens of red state immigration enforcement agents will deploy to help DNA swabs, fingerprints and transport detainees transport as part of a plan for the Republican governor to greenlight to take over some of the 1,700 military forces in the ice office.

On July 25, the Pentagon announced that a 1,700 National Guard (an additional 1,200 already deployed 500 units) would “work to address case management, transportation, logistics support and clergy support in the processing of ice arrests both inside and outside the processing.

Some obligations include taking DNA swabs, photographs and fingerprints of people held at ice facilities, according to defense officials who are speaking on condition of anonymity.

The security forces have already begun arriving at the ice office.

Florida State Guard spokesman William Manley said 25 of the nine ice offices that “built” nine ice offices across the state arrived on August 5th.

“We expect our security guards to carry out administrative/official tasks, fingerprints, DNA swabing, photography and transportation support,” Manly said.

Florida State Guard officials will replace the 200 Marines deployed in early July to take on “administrative, administrative, logistics and logistics” duties at state ice facilities, according to a statement from the U.S. Northern Command.

The National Guard Forces can play similar roles in the ice office in 20 additional states with Republican governors, including Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Nevada, Tennessee, Texas, Maxwell, Miqua Maxwell, and the National Guard Boob Spokespean.

South Carolina has been requested by Louisiana, with 40 and 70 troops, according to a spokesman for the state’s National Guard Department.

The Trump administration deployed 4,000 National Guard and hundreds of Marines to quell protests over a widespread immigrant attack in Los Angeles. The majority — over 3,000 — have been recalled.

The force tapped by the Red Governor to fill the Ice Office

Unlike these troops, security guards currently being tapped to help with ice stops will be deployed under the orders of two dozen state Republican governors. In other words, they are not subject to legal bans from federal forces carrying out law enforcement functions.

Joseph Nun, a lawyer for the Brennan Centre’s Freedom and National Security Program, said tapping the military to play an integrated role in handling ice arrests remains a source of concern.

“If we deploy our domestic troops to help enforce immigration, we are separating our personnel resources and attention from our core national security responsibilities,” Nun said. This includes the “traditional” responsibilities of security guards, such as disaster relief and response, he added.

Integrating the troops into internal law enforcement operations far from border risks makes them “a presence in the national ice offices,” he said.

It opened up the possibility of “a seemingly permanent presence of the military at the US Mexican border… moving inside the country,” he said.

5 shots; suspected in custody

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ATLANTA — Fort Stewart’s sergeant fired on five colleagues at Georgia Army Base Wednesday morning, Aug. 6, officials said. The fellow soldiers responded quickly and tackled him on the ground.

Army brig. General John Lebas, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division and Fort Stewart, told reporters that all five of them filmed “will be “recovered” in “stable condition.”

Rubas said according to Sergeant Stewart Fort Soldier. Quornelius Radford, 28, a non-committed officer in automated logistics, was arrested and taken into custody at the scene. Radford field soldiers typically manage maintenance or warehouse operations by performing orders and tracking tasks on the Army computer system.

Radford was recently arrested for driving under the influence, Lubus said, but “it was unknown to his chain of command until (the shooting) happened.”

The shooting took place at a workplace in Radford, and colleagues were involved, Lubus said. The sergeant used a “personal handgun.”

The soldiers who witnessed the attack held back Radford, the general said. “These soldiers definitely hindered further victims,” he said.

The two soldiers who were shot dead were taken via ambulance to Memorial Health University Medical Center, a trauma center that is about an hour’s drive in Savannah. Hospital spokesman Brina Gordon said the helicopters were unable to support due to local weather conditions.

The other three were treated at Winn Army Community Hospital. One of them required surgery, Lubas said.

Radford began the fire before 11am, said Lubus fired in a South Georgia installation area associated with the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Infantry Division, a tank unit that returned from its deployment in Europe in the summer of 2024.

The entire fort was locked up shortly afterwards, and according to the Post, Radford was arrested at 11:35am. Fort Stewart lifted the lockdown for most of the base just after noon and declared the post “all clear” just before 2pm.

Several law enforcement agencies, including the Hinesville Police Department, joined the Army to respond to the incident. The FBI said it is in response to the Fort Stewart scene and will provide resources or investigative support upon request.

According to White House spokesman Caroline Levitt and Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegses have been briefed on the shooting and are monitoring the situation.

Filming on Wednesday was the second filming in recent years that occurred in the workspace of the second Armored Brigade Combat Team. In December 2022, a fellow soldier shot and killed a sergeant. Nathan Hillman in the unit’s building complex.

Here’s what we know so far about the incident:

Georgia court records show that Radford was arrested in May for driving under the influence of Fort Stewart in Liberty County.

According to Liberty County Court records, Georgia’s patrol arrested Radford on May 18 for driving under the influence of alcohol. He was driving a 2021 Nissan Ultima with a Florida Plate.

Radford was also charged with running a red light, court records show. Liberty County Court officials did not immediately respond to requests for additional information from USA Today.

– Michael Loria

Sadie Mohrbacher was in the theater watching a new Fantastic Four film when she received a horrifying text message from her sister on Wednesday morning.

Maulbacher, 25, ran out of the theatre and called his sister, Page Shipley, who lives at Stewart Military Base in Georgia. Ciple says she was home alone, closed the door, closed all the curtains, and took shelter in the upstairs closet with her dog ranger.

Ciple’s husband, an active soldier who worked at Bass, was safe and was able to return home from work after the lockdown was lifted in parts of Fort Stewart.

“It was horrifying,” Maulbacher told USA Today.

Other military bases have also experienced mass shootings in recent years.

In 2019, a foreign flight training officer from Saudi Arabia killed eight more naval sailors and injured eight more in a shooting at Pensacola, a Naval Air Station in Florida. Investigators have decided on the second Mohammed Said Al-Shamrani who died in the attack.

Army experts stationed in Fort Hood, Texas killed three soldiers and shot 12 more before dying of suicide in 2014. SPC. Ivan Lopez Lopez, the archer, experienced personal and workplace problems before the murder.

In 2013, Navy contractor Aaron Alexis killed 12 people at the Navy Yard Complex in Washington, DC.

And in 2009, Army psychiatrist Major Nidal Hasan killed 13 people, most of whom killed soldiers and injured more than 30 people in a terrorist attack at the Deployment Medical Processing Center in Fort Hood, Texas. Hasan was injured, arrested and sentenced to death for murder. The US Supreme Court refused to hear Hasan’s final appeal in March and confirmed his death sentence.

Fort Stewart and several schools around it entered temporary blockades as the shootings were deployed at a vast military base.

Three schools serving military children at Fort Stewart were blocked Wednesday morning, according to a warning from the Department of Defense Educational Activities. Education continued during the lockdown, but no one could enter or leave school, Alert said. The lockdown was lifted around 12:30pm in the East.

In Liberty County, where most of the bases are located, two primary and secondary schools have entered soft lockdown “from a wealth of attention.” It was the first day for students returning to school after summer vacation.

In Appling County, more than 20 miles from Fort Stewart, all county schools were placed under level 1 lockdown before being lifted around 1pm, the school system said on social media.

Georgia lawmakers said they were praying for soldiers and their families in a post on social media.

“Participate in prayer for the victims, their families and the brave law enforcement officers who work to protect our community,” said Rep. Buddy Carter, a Republican who represents the district, including Fort Stewart.

Another Georgia Republican, Rep. Mike Collins, also sought prayers for soldiers and first responders.

“I’m heartbroken today after seeing news of an active shooter incident at Fort Stewart,” said Georgia Sen. Rafael Warnock, a Democrat. “I will closely monitor the situation and participate in everything in Georgia to pray for the safety of our military personnel, staff and their families.”

Fort Stewart in the US Army is a vast military facility located in southeastern Georgia, covering 438 square miles.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the base is home to the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and houses around 10,000 people, including active duty forces, families and civilian employees.

The base dates back to 1940, when it opened as an anti-aircraft training facility. Over the decades, size and population have grown steadily. Today, it serves thousands of active duty military, families, students, retirees, contractors and private employees.

Italy offers the ultimate advancement of the Landmark Sicily Bridge Project

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Rome
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The Italian government ultimately approved Wednesday the construction of the world’s longest single-span bridge connecting Sicily to the mainland, despite environmental, fiscal and other concerns that have slowed it for decades.

The 3.7-kilometer (2.3-mile) structure has been debated since at least the late 1960s as a tool to develop the poor south of Italy.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government made that a priority, securing 13.5 billion euros ($15.63 billion) over the next decade, building it and building its surrounding facilities.

The Economic Planning and Sustainable Development Committee (CIPESS) granted final approval to the project at a meeting in Rome, said Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini.

According to the Messina Strait Company, the bridge will be completed in 2032.

Some citizen groups are campaigning against the bridge.

The project faces severe opposition from those questioning the wisdom of building such a bridge in earthquake zones. Many also fear cost overruns in construction contracts, potential environmental damage, and mafia penetration.

Some civic groups opposed to the bridge say it is unnecessary, and this week the Environment Association filed a complaint with the European Union, flagging serious risks to the local environment.

However, the bridge will also have strong support from those who believe there will be a link between high-speed rail and roads as an alternative to the current ferry intersection.

The Messina Bridge Strait Project was awarded to the Eurolink Consortium following an international bid. The consortium is led by WebUild, Italy’s largest construction company. This includes the Spanish group Sacyr and Japanese group IHI.

Wednesday’s approval will allow for the commencement of preliminary work, including archaeological and geological surveys, according to the Messina Strait Company, which oversees the project. Land expropriation is also permitted.

Last week, Salvini told reporters that a national audit court verification is necessary before the cipess resolution comes into effect. A source close to the issue said this could take weeks.

WebUild has aggressive construction projects around the world, including the huge Nem project in Saudi Arabia. Sacyr will take part in the expansion of the Panama Canal, while Ihi is involved in the Akai Suspension Bridge in Japan and the Osmangaji Suspension Bridge in Turkey.

WebUild estimates that construction can create more than 100,000 jobs.

Zara removes UK ads for “unhealthly thin” models after reviewing WatchDog

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In response, Zara said that the two models provided medical certificates proof of health.

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Zara has been asked to remove two ads from its UK website to feature the “unhealthy thin” model.

The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA), the UK’s independent advertising regulator, has asked Zara to remove ads on its UK website. They want “unhealthly thin” models, dresses and oversized shirts that feature violations of industry standards. The ASA says these ads were not prepared “with a sense of responsibility towards the consumer and society.”

In total, the ASA reviewed four Zara ads flagged by members of the public who believed the attention model was too thin, ASA media and public relations manager Matthew Wilson told USA Today.

Based in Spain, Zara is a first fashion company selling clothing, accessories and beauty products for men and women, known for their simple designs. The company operates approximately 100 locations in the US.

When contacted by USA Today on Wednesday, August 6th, Zara did not immediately respond due to comments about the ad.

Ads flagged to “punch the collarbone”

The two ads feature a model with a “prominent collarbone,” the ASA wrote in its findings.

One of the ads was Oyster White, a Zara ZW Collection oversized pocket shirt. In one of the photos, the low cut design of the shirt focused attention to the model’s upper chest and “focused around her collarbone, which protruded out,” writes ASA. The model’s arms were located at her waist and the other in her pants pocket, making her arms look “very slim.”

Another ad was for Zara’s vast total short dress at ECRU (off-white). In the photo, the shadows of the model’s feet draw attention to them and make them appear “notably thin,” the ASA wrote in its findings. The positioning of the model’s upper arm makes her body appear “slightly unbalanced,” the ASA continues. Finally, the model’s hair is pulled back into the smooth pan, with the “slightly gagged” emphasised on her head.

What was Zara’s reaction?

According to the ASA, Zara claimed that the two models worked for “famous” fashion brands and provided medical certifications to prove they were healthy.

As for the photos themselves, Zara told the ASA that they had not changed outside of “very small lighting and coloring editing.”

The ASA survey, released on August 6, states that Zara has removed the ads from its website. As of August 6th, the vast total flagged photos of the short dresses had been removed, and the entire ZW collection’s oversized pocket shirt list has disappeared from the UK website.

Gretacross is a national trend reporter for USA Today. Story ideas? Please email her gcross@usatoday.com.

Texas Democrats evacuated bomb threats from Illinois hotels

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WASHINGTON – Some Texas Democrats fled the state to block Republican rezoning efforts have evacuated from hotels in Illinois, where they remained in the threat of bombs.

Police said they responded to a “reporting potential bomb threats at the Q Center Hotel and Convention Complex” at 7:15am in St. Charles, a western Chicago suburb.

They said they conducted a “full search” with the Kane County Sheriff’s office bomb squad and found “no device.”

“In response to the threat, 400 people were evacuated immediately and the bomb squad unit conducted an investigation, so the area was secured,” the St. Charles Police Department wrote. “Following clearance from the authorities, all guests and staff have returned safely to the facility.”

“The threat of violence will be investigated and the person responsible will be held responsible,” wrote JB Pritzker, a Democratic government in Illinois.

Texas Rep. John Beussie III, one of the hotel’s Democrats, told USA Today in an August 6 interview that when the alarm was issued in the morning, many lawmakers were still asleep and the group had gathered outside. He said it took about two hours for everything to be cleared up and they were allowed to re-enter safely.

“I would like to thank Governor Pretzker, and I would like to thank the law enforcement and the hotel staff,” Beussie said. “They worked hard to make sure the place was safe… They show what real leadership looks like. It’s sad that (Government of Texas) Greg Abbott doesn’t have the same qualities as a leader.”

More than 50 Texan Democrats left the state on August 3rd, denying the quorum needed to advance rezoning efforts to Republicans. This effort could potentially give US House Republicans up to five more seats to Republicans in the middle of 2026.

Democrat state lawmakers spread across blue states, including Illinois, Massachusetts and New York. Republican Abbott filed an emergency petition on May 5th, sought to remove Texas Democratic House leaders from his position.

Contributors: Philip Bailey, Savannah Kucher, Tao Nuguen, USA Today

A warm and humid world where ticks thrive, the spread of limes and other diseases is increasing

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This year, people are seeking emergency care for the highest level of tick bite since 2017, and reported cases of Lyme disease have continued to rise over the years, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Experts say the increase is driven by warmer temperatures due to climate change and the widening presence of mites in more parts of the US and Canada.

“When we first started this (in the mid-1980s), there were few cases of Lyme disease reported in Canada. At this point, Lyme disease is pretty well established in Canada,” said Dr. Thomas Daniels, director of the Louis Calder Centre, Biological Field Station at Fordham University.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, when temperatures exceed 45 degrees Fahrenheit, deer mites carrying Lyme disease are mostly active.

“I like being in a humid area, not in a humid area,” Daniels said. “If you sample on grass burned in the sun all day, you won’t find any mites. You’ll go 20 feet into the woods where it’s in the shade, the temperature is generally lower and there are more ground covers and you’ll find mites.”

The threat from mites and mosquitoes that promote the transmission of diseases such as the West Nile, dengue fever and malaria is already increasing.

“Because of the human effects on the climate, temperatures are already more suitable for infection with diseases in the US and North America due to the rise in temperatures we have already seen,” Dr. Erin Mordecai, an associate professor of biology at Stanford University, said in a news briefing Monday.

And while climate change has contributed to expanding mites’ habitat, it is not the only driver. Human changes in the landscape also form where mites are found.

“That’s not one factor by any means, right?” Dr. Jean Tsao, a professor at Michigan State University, is studying disease ecology, said in a news briefing. “In the US, most of the range changes are likely due to land use changes that affect wildlife communities. Also, management of wildlife populations such as whitetail deer. These play a major role in many of these many mites.”

Deer ticks are also known as black-legged mites, and are dominant mites that carry Lyme disease. In the nymph stage, at the most active stage, mites are the size of poppy species and are easy to miss. When feeding blood, they can transmit pathogens including Bacterium borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease. This transmission occurs through the saliva of the tika and enters the host’s bloodstream during feeding.

Brian Fallon, director of the Lyme and Tick-borne Disease Research Center at Columbia University, told CNN on Friday that the infection could cause a variety of multisystem symptoms. Once in the bloodstream, bacteria can travel to various parts of the body, including the heart, central nervous system, brain or peripheral nerves.

Lyme disease can also occur in a variety of ways.

“Most people think of lyme rash as a target rash in bulls’ eyes. In fact, it’s not the most common presentation,” Fallon said. “The most common presentation is a pinkish reddish rash. But the main thing is that it expands size from a small rash to more than 5 centimeters.”

Fallon points out that some people may see multiple rashes on different parts of their body. As the disease develops without treatment, more serious symptoms may appear. Symptoms can last for months or years, Fallon said.

“It is recognized primarily by the rash early on. If you are lucky enough to see it, then it is recognized by symptoms such as neurological symptoms that can manifest as facial paralysis or meningitis. You may have cardiac symptoms such as kinetic pit or slow rhythm. Muscle pain and fatigue.

“It can be very debilitating,” he said.

Daniels said there are measures that can be taken to reduce the chance of a tick bite, but there are no complete preventive measures. He said the most important protection against Lyme disease is removal of mites as soon as possible.

“The key is to remove the mites as quickly as possible. None of these (tick-borne) pathogens are transmitted very quickly, but they can be transmitted in just 15 minutes. However, the infection rate in (humans) is very low,” Daniels said. “In Lyme disease, there is a window of opportunity for 24-48 hours, because it takes time for the tick to actually prepare the feeding to transmit the bacteria.”

Signs warning people about Lyme disease can be seen at the Norma Johnson Center.

Daniels encourages people to wear more clothes in the summer. “The more you can keep mites on the outside of your body rather than on the skin, the less likely you are to find a place to attach.” Clothes can also be treated with permethrin, an insecticide that repels mites.

When hiking, Fallon advises people to stay on the trail as ticks roam around leafy areas and tree mountains. Daniels advises people to do a “tick check” for themselves and each other if they are in an area with mites.

“It helps because mites may go behind your knees. Or they bite your back and can’t see your back and reach your back. They shower at the end of the day.

If the ticks are attached for a long period of time, Fallon says they are gradually “blowing out as big as raisins.” If a mites are found, experts will recommend using tweezers to remove the mites from under the body.

“Don’t try to burn it with cigarettes. Don’t try to put anything toxic in. Remove it with tweezers,” he said.

Alec Rune: American journalist found after missing a hike in Norway National Park

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According to the Norwegian Red Cross, American journalist Alec Rune, who went missing while hiking in Norwegian National Park, was found to be alive.

The rune was discovered near Forgefonna National Park by helicopter crews and was taken for treatment, the organization wrote on Wednesday.

“We are so happy! We would like to thank everyone in Norway for helping us find him,” Rune’s wife Veronica Silkenko told local news outlet VG over the phone after her husband was discovered.

According to Svain Beer, emergency manager of Hadanger police, the journalist was found with several injuries to his leg.

Rescue teams discovered Himatt at 11:34am local time on Wednesday, the Norwegian Red Cross said. He was conscious, but tired when he was discovered, and according to the organization expressed a great relief.

“I don’t remember finding someone alive a few days later. Searches don’t always end like this, but today it was. It’s a great relief for everyone who was part of the effort.”

Rune, a Wisconsin climate journalist, was reported to his wife missing on Monday after he was unable to return home.

Silkenko previously told CNN he last spoke to Rune on Thursday as he had set out on a hike. However, due to the fact that phone signals could turn patchy in the wilderness, she didn’t worry too much until a few days later.

The Norwegian Red Cross wrote to X early Wednesday that the rune search resumed on Wednesday morning, mobilizing a large team of volunteers, including specialized climbing teams and drones.

Luhn’s search operation began on Monday and expanded by Tuesday. Norwegian Red Cross spokesman Ingeborg Thorsland previously told CNN that the operation spans a wide range of areas and the heavy rains made navigation difficult.

The 38-year-old worked at outlets such as National Geographic, The Guardian, The New York Times and the Atlantic. He currently lives in Moscow and Istanbul before being based in London.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

GM destroys EV range records for 1,059 miles on a single charge

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  • The 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck set a new world record, travelling 1,059.2 miles on a single charge.
  • The record surpasses the 493-mile EPA estimated range and previous 749-mile record held by Lucid Motors.
  • This record was achieved on Michigan’s GM Milford Evidence Site and public roads near Bell Isle.

Range anxiety is one of the main reasons consumers quote to avoid electric vehicles, and is a big reason for purchasing for Silverado EV customers, It promotes a range of over 400 miles over various trims.

To address that concern and entertain its engineers, General Motors took an electric truck into testing last week, breaking distance records in the process.

Under meticulous parameters, including limiting air conditioning use in the July heat, the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV work truck sets a new world record for the electric vehicle range, travelling 1,059.2 miles on a single charge, over twice the truck’s EPA estimates 493 miles.

Lucid Motors held previous records of the electric vehicle range, 749 miles earlier this summer.

GM and other automakers are limited to those that can advertise for the range of vehicles outside the EPA test cycle conducted at the National Vehicles and Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Stephanie Brinley, associate director of Auto Intelligence at S&P Global Mobility, said the tests aim to create equal playing fields among automakers and compare how the range of vehicles works under the same conditions.

“While it’s rarely accurate about what you get in the real world, automakers can only promote the numbers coming out of their test cycle,” Brinley said. Silverado EV testing allowed GM to demonstrate that in one-time cases there are more possibilities than consumers would expect.

The Silverado EV reached the record after months of preparation and planning.

First, according to GM spokeswoman Katherine Scale, the vehicle has been optimized, but only in a way that customers can replicate at home.

According to the company, these optimizations include:

  • Safely maintain an average speed of 20-25 mph and avoid hard braking or rapid acceleration.
  • Most of the tests are conducted on the vehicle with only the driver.
  • The windshield wiper blade was set to the “lowest tolerance” position to reduce drag.
  • Silverado tires inflated to the most acceptable pressure for low rolling resistance, except for spares removed to reduce load.
  • Wheel alignment has been “optimized.”
  • An accessory tonneau cover has been added to streamline airflow around the truck bed.
  • Climate control was off.

Another factor that helped the vehicle’s battery life was running tests in the summer. GM provided “optimized ambient temperature for battery efficiency.”

The test was conducted over a week on GM’s Milford-proven public roads near ground and Bell Isle. Forty GM engineers volunteered to drive the vehicle.

GM sold 5,439 Silverado EVs in the first six months of 2025, up 67% from last year, but has dropped dramatically to its petrol-powered predecessor. GM sold 289,251 in all Silverado types, including medium and lightweight versions.

Jackie Charniga covers General Motors for the Free Press. Contact her at jcharniga@freepress.com.

RFK Jr. pays back Covidshot technology. What is an mRNA vaccine?

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Health and Human Services Director Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has revealed that his agency cut funds for mRNA development and calls vaccine technology “ineffective” and claims it poses more risk than profits.

X In a video posted on August 5th, Kennedy said the decision would affect 22 projects worth nearly $500 million in the Bureau of Advanced Biomedical Research and Development, which will help businesses develop medical supplies to address public health threats.

Messenger RNA, or mRNA, is used in two of the most common COVID-19 vaccines approved in the announcement of the US Kennedy.

“We’ve seen a lot of different things,” said Jeff Coller, professor of RNA biology and therapy at Johns Hopkins University. “As other countries advance these proven safe and effective treatments, American patients may increasingly rely on foreign innovations for groundbreaking treatments.”

How do mRNA vaccines work?

The Covid-19 vaccine works by instructing the body’s immune system to recognize the virus and creating antibodies that attack it.

Messenger RNA, or mRNA, is a code that tells the body’s cells to produce only parts of the virus, proteins on the surface. The cord is protected by a fat foam-like lipid coating.

When injected into the body, the vaccine releases mRNA and programs the cells to produce spike proteins like those found on the surface of the Covid-19 virus SARS-Cov-2. Our immune system recognizes these vaccine-created spike proteins as invaders and creates antibodies that block future attacks from the virus.

Messenger RNA vaccines contain only a small portion of the virus, and unlike some vaccines, people cannot be given diseases that prevent or cause allergies to eggs and other traditional vaccine ingredients.

What did RFK say about mRNA?

In a video posted to X, Kennedy claimed that the mRNA vaccine is ineffective against mutated versions of the virus, revealing that HHS plans to redistribut the funds to study a whole virus vaccine that uses weakened versions of the virus.

Kennedy’s video “represents a fundamental misconception of science,” Koller said. Vaccines using mRNA technology are still effective against slightly mutated versions of the virus. Even if mutant viruses can avoid immunity, scientists can still modify the mRNA code to create new vaccines that target mutant proteins more rapidly than other vaccine technologies.

Additionally, Koller said that because vaccines introduce more viral particles into the human body, they tend to produce more side effects than other types of shots, which are protein-based or mRNA. There is also a slight risk that a person can get sick due to a disease that the vaccine is intended to prevent.

What does mRNA technology refund mean?

The most obvious result of reimbursing mRNA vaccine development is the loss of resources to improve vaccine technology targeting infectious diseases such as Covid-19, avian influenza and cancer, Coller said.

But he also said that while research could be paid without federal support, he would send a “terrifying” message to vaccine companies about continuing this type of research in the United States.

This could allow businesses to move their operations and marketing to other countries. This not only makes these treatments more expensive in the US, but also replaces them as “the world leader in biotechnology,” Koller said.

“The rest of the world has doubled mRNA drugs. That’s true and the US will lose race,” Koller said. “The decision from Kennedy is essentially destroying our control in the field of biotechnology.”

Should we expect a Covid vaccine this fall?

Dr. Beth Oller, a family doctor in Stockton, Kansas, and Dr. Beth Oller, a clinical instructor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, said it is unclear whether patients should expect a Covid-19 vaccine this fall.

In June, Kennedy fired all members of the Advisory Committee on Vaccination Practices. This is an important vaccine panel that makes recommendations for Covid-19 and other vaccines, and has appointed eight new members. The committee did not make any autumn recommendations during its first meeting, and is not expected to resume until “September/October,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.

Kennedy said on May 27 that the Covid-19 vaccine will no longer be included in the CDC’s recommended vaccination schedule for healthy children and pregnant women.

Under the change, the only people recommended for the Covid-19 vaccine are those over the age of 65 and those with existing health problems. This could make it difficult for others who want the Covid-19 vaccine to get it, such as healthy people under the age of 65 with vulnerable families or those who want to reduce the short-term risk of infection.

The American Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have issued statements, among other organizations, condemned the change.

Does insurance cover my covid shot?

A recent poll shows that many consumers are worried about the possibility of reducing health insurance companies’ vaccine coverage.

A KFF poll issued on August 1 found that 40% of adults said they would “undoubtedly” or “probably” get a shot of the Covid-19 vaccine. Of those planning on getting the vaccine, 62% said they were worried that their insurance wouldn’t cover the costs of the vaccine.

The group representing commercial health insurance companies said it plans to cover vaccines recommended by the vaccine advisory panels CDC and ACIP.

“The health plan will continue to follow federal requirements related to coverage of ACIP recommended vaccines and will continue to support broad access to important preventive services, including vaccinations,” said Tinastow, spokesman for AHIP, representing health insurance companies.

The CDC currently recommends shared decisions between parents and doctors to vaccinate children with the Covid-19 vaccine. It also recommends vaccines to people with moderate or severe immunity compromised.

James Gelfund, president and CEO of the ERISA Industrial Committee, said large employers who provide health insurance benefits to workers and their families are likely to continue to cover the Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccines.

In some cases, employer vaccine coverage may follow FDA approval rather than narrowing ACIP recommendations.Contribution: Mary Wallas Holldridge

Adrianna Rodriguez can visit adrodriguez@usatoday.com.

Almost 20 people in Florida are sick after drinking raw milk from the same farm

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It developed nearly 20 food poisoning in Florida after consuming raw milk from the same farm, according to the state’s Department of Health.

Florida officials did not name milk producers, but in a breaking news about the outbreak, they said they were warning about “continued recent cases” because of particular concern about the farm’s sanitation practices. The health department’s notice did not involve the type of milk that came from cows or other animals.

People developed Campylobacter and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC infections. So far, seven of the 21 patients have been hospitalized. There were six cases among children under the age of 10.

“In these raw milk, children, frankly, drink more milk than adults, so it’s not uncommon to have a disproportionate number of children,” said Bill Mahler, a lawyer representing food poisoning victims.

“It’s kids who generally hit the worst people.”

Raw milk is not heated to kill harmful bacteria. Like many states, Florida allows farms to sell raw milk as long as they are labeled as pet and animal food. The Florida Department of Health says the labeling will limit regulations on sanitation practices on the farms that produce it.

From 1998 to 2018, there were 202 foodborne diseases associated with raw milk, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These outbreaks caused nearly 2,700 illnesses and more than 220 people hospitalized. Official food poisoning reports do not take a real burden as they do not recognize that the food is sick and may not seek medical attention or undergo testing to confirm infection.

Bacteria that cause STEC infection are dangerous because they block the production of proteins within the cells and self-destruct the cells, producing leaf and bird toxins. This creates a strong immune response that is difficult to stop.

“We’ve seen a lot of people suffering from infections,” said Dr. Norman Beatty, an infectious disease expert at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital.

It can lead to small clots that form in the blood vessels, which can move into the kidneys and damage them. This is a condition known as hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS. It is most common in children under the age of 5, but can occur at any age. This condition can be life-threatening.

Children with HUS are usually hospitalized for assistance, including dialysis, and handed over for the kidneys.

Symptoms of STEC are frequent, but not always, include bloody diarrhea. Patients may also experience stomach cramps and vomiting. Fever is rare. These symptoms It usually appears three to four days after eating or contacting contaminated food.

Campylobacteriosis causes diarrhea, which can be bloody. Abdominal pain and fever may also occur. It starts 2-5 days after exposure to bacteria.

Rarely people develop long-term complications from food poisoning. These include Gallian syndrome, where the body’s immune system attacks its own nerves, causing muscle weakness and paralysis.

In a statement to CNN, the Florida Department of Health said it did not comment on active or ongoing epidemiological investigations and did not explain why it was not named the farm.

The state’s bulletin regarding the incident did not explicitly warn people not to drink raw milk. Instead, it said it provides information about the outbreak to help residents make informed decisions about their health.

“Residents and visitors need to be aware that there is a known risk of linking raw milk to human consumption,” spokesperson Isabel Kilman said in an email statement.

US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he is a fan of raw milk. In May, he recorded an interview with wellness influencers. This ended with two archers with raw milk in the White House.

CDC says pasteurized milk offers the same nutritional benefits without the risk of raw milk. Agents encourage consumers to choose pasteurized milk and dairy products.

British Opera Company brings performances in Israel after staff backlash

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One of the UK’s most prestigious arts institutions, Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO), canceled the planned production of “Tosca” in Israel after extensive staff backlash.

In a recent open letter, members of the 182 staff said they “rejected” to preserve current or future performances in Israel due to the war in Gaza.

RBO was planning to collaborate with Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv next year to host a three-act opera that dramatized “The Devastation of War.”

However, the signatories accused the RBO of “choosing to actively support the Israeli state,” and its government is “now engaged in crimes against humanity” in the besieged Palestinian enclave.

RBO CEO Alex Beard confirmed on Wednesday that production had been cancelled to CNN, but said the decision was removed from “concerns about the safety of local corporate members in light of the ongoing dispute.”

A letter from the staff was urged by a conflict that broke out within the organization after the dancers raised the Palestinian flag during a curtain call and then raised the Palestinian flag for the performance of “Il Trovatore”.

A widely shared video of the moment showed a flakah between a dancer and a man stepping out of his wings to try to steal the flag from the dancer’s hands.

In a statement at the time reported in the UK media, RBO said the dancer’s exhibition was “completely inappropriate” and “false behavior” that fell into the organization’s “commitment to political equity.” However, the organization’s response has sparked widespread condemnation among staff.

View from the stage of the Royal Opera House auditorium.

In their open letter, RBO staff expressed solidarity with the dancers who spread the Palestinian flag. The attempt to seize the flag from him “sent a clear message that visible solidarity with Palestine is accompanied by hostility.”

Staff requested that the organization withhold “our works from agencies that legalize and economically support the nation engaged in mass murder of civilians.”

On October 7, 2023, more than 61,000 Palestinians were killed in Gaza when Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages.

The letter also targeted what was called the RBO’s “hypocritical” stance, citing the organization’s support for Ukraine following the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022.

“At that time I realized that silence was unacceptable. Why is it different now? Why did the Palestinian suffering come to silence?

Chief Executive Beard said in a statement reported in the UK media that RBO’s support for Ukraine was “consistent with the global consensus of the time,” but “as global geopolitics became more complicated, our attitude has changed so that our actions reflect our goals and values.”

He said he was “awaiting the crisis in Gaza,” and that the RBO acknowledges and respects “the set of views held by staff, artists and audiences.”

The activist group, Palestinian-British artist, praised the RBO’s decision to cancel production in Israel, claiming that “the management of such an agency has never responded immediately to this point.”

The alarm for Gaza’s suffering has reached new heights in recent months since Israel put Israel under lockdown and caused Palestinians to die of starvation and malnutrition.

Following the lead of British President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer announced that Britain will recognize Palestine in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza.

RBO’s production of “Tosca” will premiere in London in September. The Israeli Opera website has since removed all mentions of planned production.