Month: September 2018

Ebola Fight Has New Science but Faces Old Hurdles in Restive Congo

Posted on by Cosc

When Esperance Nzavaki heard she was cured of Ebola after three weeks of cutting-edge care at a medical centre in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, she raised her arms to the sky with joy and praised the Lord.

Her recovery is testament to the effectiveness of a new treatment, which isolates patients in futuristic cube-shaped mobile units with transparent walls and gloved access, so health workers no longer need to don cumbersome protective gear.

“I started to feel sick, with a fever and pain all over my body. I thought it was typhoid. I took medicine but it didn’t work,” Nzavaki told Reuters in Beni, a city of several hundred thousand, where officials are racing to contain the virus.

“Then an ambulance came and brought me to hospital for Ebola treatment. Now I praise God I’m healed.”

The fight against Ebola has advanced more in recent years than in any since it was discovered near the Congo River in 1976. When the worst outbreak killed 11,300 people in West Africa in 2013-2016, there was no vaccine and treatment amounted to little more than keeping patients comfortable and hydrated.

Now there’s an experimental vaccine manufactured by Merck which already this year helped quash an earlier outbreak of this strain of the virus on the other side of the country in under three months. And there are the cube treatment centers, pioneered by the Senegal-based medical charity, ALIMA.

“With this system … where there are not people donning masks, the patients feel reassured and perceive that there is life here,” said Claude Mahoudeau, ALIMA’s coordinator for the Ebola outbreak in Beni.

In addition, three experimental treatments have been rolled out for the first time, offering patients additional reason to hope that their diagnosis is not a death sentence.

Yet even the smartest science can do little about the marauding rebel groups and widespread fear and mistrust that could yet scupper efforts to contain Congo’s tenth outbreak of the deadly haemorrhagic fever.

The latest outbreak is so far believed to have killed 90 people since July and infected another 40.

The stakes are high, not just for health reasons. Ebola could complicate Congo’s first democratic change of power, the holding of a Dec. 23 election to replace President Joseph Kabila that is already two years late.

Rebellion, fear, mistrust

The affected North Kivu and Ituri provinces have been a tinder box of armed rebellion and ethnic killing since two civil wars in the late 1990s. Some areas near the epicenter require armed escorts to reach because of insecurity. Two South African peacekeepers there were wounded in a rebel ambush last week.

And last week, authorities confirmed the first death from Ebola in the major trading hub of Butembo, a city of almost a million people near the border with Uganda, dampening hopes that the virus was being brought under control.

On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said more than 60 of its experts had arrived in the city and that a mobile laboratory had started testing samples.

Insecurity aside, the biggest challenges the government faces could be panic and downright denial, as they were during the catastrophic West Africa outbreak.

“Ebola does not exist in Beni,” resident Tresor Malala said, shaking his head. “For a long time, people got sick with fever, diarrhoea, vomiting and they healed. Now someone gets a fever, they get sent to the Ebola treatment center and then they die.”

Taxi driver Mosaste Kala was equally skeptical: “The only people dying are the ones going to the … treatment center.”

Tackling these perceptions will be crucial if authorities are to halt the epidemic.

At a news conference on Saturday, Health Minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga acknowledged that “community resistance is the first challenge to the response to the epidemic.”

In the district of Ndindi, in Beni, Ebola is spreading due to the community’s reluctance to cooperate with health workers, the ministry says. Some locals have hidden sick relatives or refused to be vaccinated.

The problem, says school teacher Alain Mulonda, many of whose pupils were being kept at home by anxious parents, is that locals have little understanding of Ebola.

“If the population of Beni continues to show this distrust,” he said, “this disease will consume the whole town.”
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Survey: Number of Americans Getting News on Social Media Slows

Posted on by Cobiz

About two-thirds of American adults say they occasionally get their news from social media, according to a survey released Monday by the Pew Research Center.

The number is 1 percent more than last year, indicating a slowdown in the growth of news consumption on social media.

Despite the popularity of social media, 57 percent said they expected the news they received on these platforms to be inaccurate.

Republicans were far more negative than Democrats about social media news, with 72 percent saying they expect it to be inaccurate. Forty-six percent of Democrats and 55 percent of independents reported feeling the same. Pew surveyor Katerina Eva Matsa said this falls in line with years of research on political attitudes toward news media in general.

“We’ve seen stark differences between Republicans and Democrats when it comes to the perception of fairness, the media’s watchdog role, trust toward the media,” Matsa said.

Despite the partisan breakdown, more people listed accuracy as their greatest concern with news on social media than political bias. Thirty-one percent were concerned with accuracy, while 11 percent worried about political bias.

Facebook remained the dominant platform for online news consumption, with 43 percent of respondents saying they get news there. YouTube came in second with 21 percent, and Twitter third with 12 percent. Other major social media platforms such as Instagram and Reddit scored in the single digits.

Reddit stood out as the site where the highest portion of its users were exposed to news, at 73 percent. Twitter and Facebook came in second and third respectively, with 71 percent and 67 percent.
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Creditors Warn Greece on Debt Relief as Inspectors Return

Posted on by Coeco

Greece’s lead creditor warned the country on Monday not to stray from reforms agreed upon before the end of its international bailout, as European monitors arrived to check the nation’s finances.

The five-day inspection is expected to focus on government promises over the weekend to offer tax relief as well as plans to scrap promised pension cuts that are due to take effect in 2019.

Klaus Regling, managing director of the European Stability Mechanism, the eurozone’s rescue fund, told Austria’s Die Presse newspaper that Greece needed to stick to its commitments.

`We are a very patient creditor. But we can stop debt relief measures that have been decided for Greece if the adjustment programs are not continued as agreed,” he said. “The debt level appears to be frighteningly elevated. But Greece can live with that as the loan maturities are very long and the interest rates on the loans are much lower than in most other countries.”

Left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is trailing opposition conservatives in opinion polls and must call a general election within the next 12 months. Amid large protest rallies led by labor unions over the weekend, the prime minister said that relief measures promised to taxpayers would not jeopardize fiscal performance targets and would be introduced gradually.

Greece has promised to deliver high primary surpluses — the budget balance before calculating the cost of servicing debt — for years to come, along with a series of reforms in exchange for better debt repayment terms.

The end of the bailout means Greece will have to return to international capital markets to finance itself. However, the country faces a troubled return after the financial turmoil in Turkey and Italy halted a decline in Greek borrowing rates. The yield on Greece’s 10-year-bond remains above 4 percent.

The bailout program ended August 20 but the country’s debt level remains near 180 percent of gross domestic product.
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Records: Understaffing Causes Assisted Living Facility Snags

Posted on by Cosc

Complaints filed with a West Virginia state agency say assisted living ResCare Agency facilities are struggling with staff shortages, causing problems such as missed doctors’ appointments and incorrectly administered medication. 

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports nine substantiated complaints filed with the state Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification since last year lay out the problems due to staff shortages. One says a lack of supervision allowed a patient to run away. Another says patients are commonly told their doctors appointments have been “cancelled due to staffing issues.” 

The state agency confirmed 32 ResCare facility complaints from 2012 to 2016. Some also included allegations of neglect and sexual abuse. 

The legal director of Disability Rights of West Virginia, Jeremiah Underhill, says low pay may be to blame.
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Zimbabwe Finance Minister: Reviving Economy is ‘Herculean’ Task

Posted on by Coeco

Zimbabwe’s new finance minister has described his task of reviving the country’s moribund economy as extraordinarily difficult, but he is hopeful of success.

“It’s enormous, it is Herculean. I am very energetic and I am very up to the task. I am starting now, but in the process what I will do is listen,” said Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, a former chief economist and vice president of the African Development Bank.

He spoke to VOA at the State House after being sworn into office Monday by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Nearby, 21-year-old Isaac Madyira is jobless. He dropped out of school seven years ago after his also parents, also unemployed, failed to pay the fees. He now sells cash, which has been in acute short supply for the past two years in Zimbabwe. He says he expects change from the new Cabinet Mnangagwa put into office Monday.

“What we want is corruption to be get rid of. We want development as quickly as possible. I think [on] the issue of money, we need our own currency which is valued as compared to other currencies, then bond notes must go [the last two words in Shona],” he said.

Zimbabwe started printing bond notes about two years ago to ease cash shortages. They were supposed to trade at par with the U.S. dollar, but on the black market the notes are worth about half as much as a dollar and cash shortages have not ended.

Almost as if Ncube had talked to Madyira, the new finance minister said he has to address the currency issue for Zimbabwe’s economy to get back on track.

“Restoring confidence in the economy, I make sure that international investors are interested in the Zimbabwean economy again,” said Ncube. “I will be rolling [out] a plan on the arrears clearance and the whole debt restructuring process, coupled with that is building credit lines globally. Internally I make that on the expenditure side we live within or means or move towards that. We need to strengthen our tax collection systems. Ultimately we need to have the Zimbabwe dollar that is stable, that people have confidence in. To have a domestic currency, you need to build reserves.”

Zimbabwe abandoned its worthless dollar in 2009 and has been using the U.S. dollar, South African rand and British sterling pound for trading.

An economist for the Labor and Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe, Prosper Chitambara, says the Ncube is a good choice for the job.

“It is a good start. He is someone who is credible, a professional. But what has to be done is to begin real work,” he said. “To roll up his sleeves and begin to implement key fiscal policies that will bring back confidence into the economy. Reining down on recurrent expenditure. In general, what we need are fiscal consolidation reforms that curtail drastically recurrent government expenditure.”

Chitambara says Zimbabwe’s government spends much of its revenue on salaries, leaving social services sectors like education and health in dire need unless Western aid agencies, like USAID, assist. Chitambara says Ncube has to change that if the country is to recover.

 

 

 

 

 
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Libya Oil Company Offices Attacked, Causing Fire, Casualties

Posted on by Coeco

Security forces of Libya’s U.N.-backed government on Monday stormed the headquarters of the country’s national oil company in the capital Tripoli shortly after gunmen had gone into the building, shooting randomly, setting off explosions and taking hostages, officials said.

The Health Ministry said two people were killed and 10 others were injured in the attack, according to initial information. Health official Malek Merset had earlier said that there were dozens of injuries caused by the gunfire, smoke inhalation or explosions.

At least one explosion rocked the building soon after the gunmen went in, starting a fire that swiftly spread through the lower floors, according to the officials.

Mustafa Sanallah, head of the Libyan National Oil Company, told a Libyan television channel that explosions and an exchange of gunfire between the attackers and the building’s security guards have caused an unspecified number of deaths and injuries.

“The building was heavily damaged due to the fire. Smoke is everywhere,” Sanallah said. “The gunmen attacked the lower floors with random shooting and explosions. It’s a very violent attack.”

There was no word on the fate of the gunmen, described by Libyan officials as “terrorists,” or whether they were still holding hostages. It was not immediately clear either whether the security forces were in control of the building.

Earlier, the Interior Minister of the U.N.-backed government, Brig. Gen. Abdul-Salam Ashour, said the attack was carried out by six gunmen and that employees were inside the building when it took place.

The U.N. mission in Libya condemned the attack, describing it as “cowardly” and called on Libya to cease their “futile side conflicts” and unite to rid their nation of terrorism.

Monday’s attack followed recent fighting in Tripoli between rival armed groups, which left at least 61 people dead. A cease-fire has been in place since last week.

Libya slid into chaos after the 2011 uprising that overthrew dictator Moammar Gadhafi and led to his death. It is now governed by rival authorities in Tripoli and the country’s east.

 
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Despite Trump Tweet, Ford says it Won’t Make Hatchback in US

Posted on by Coeco

Ford won’t be moving production of a hatchback wagon to the United States from China — despite President Donald Trump’s claim Sunday that his taxes on Chinese imports mean the Focus Active can be built in America.

Citing Trump’s new tariffs, Ford on Aug. 31 said it was dropping plans to ship the Focus Active from China to America.

Trump took to Twitter Sunday to declare victory and write: “This is just the beginning. This car can now be BUILT IN THE U.S.A. and Ford will pay no tariffs!”

 

But in a statement Sunday, Ford said “it would not be profitable to build the Focus Active in the U.S.” given forecast yearly sales below 50,000.

 

For now, that means Ford simply won’t sell the vehicle in the United States. Kristin Dziczek of the Center for Automotive Research said that Ford can make Focuses “in many other plants around the world, so if they decided to continue to sell a Focus variant in the U.S. market, there are several options other than building it in the United States.”

 

In April, Ford announced plans to stop making cars in the United States — except for the iconic Mustang — and to focus on more profitable SUVs. It stopped making Focus sedans at a Wayne, Michigan, plant in May. The plan, said industry analyst Ed Kim of AutoPacific, was to pare down the Focus lineup to Active wagons and import them from China. “Without the tariffs, the business case was pretty solid for that model in the U.S. market,” Kim said.

 

The tariffs changed everything. The United States on July 6 began imposing a 25 percent tax on $34 billion in Chinese imports, including motor vehicles. Last month, it added tariffs to another $16 billion in Chinese goods and is readying taxes on another $200 billion worth. China is retaliating with its own tariffs on U.S. products.

 

The world’s two biggest economies are clashing over U.S. allegations that China deploys predatory tactics — including outright cybertheft — to acquire technology from U.S. companies and challenge American technological dominance.

 

 
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New Miss America Glad She Didn’t have to Don Swimsuit to Win

Posted on by Corts

The first woman to win the Miss America crown without having to don a swimsuit says she’s glad she didn’t have to.

Nia Imani Franklin, who won the title Sunday night in Atlantic City while competing as Miss New York, said the changes in the 98-year-old are a welcome modernization.

Meeting reporters soon after winning the crown, Franklin said she’s glad there was no swimsuit competition because it enabled her to eat a little more.

“These changes, I think, will be great for our organization,” she said. “I’ve already seen so many young women reaching out to me personally as Miss New York asking how they can get involved because I think they feel more empowered that they don’t have to do things such as walk in a swimsuit for a scholarship.”

“And I’m happy that I didn’t have to do so to win this title tonight because I’m more than just that,” Franklin said. “And all these women onstage are more than just that.”

Her victory Sunday night resurrected a string of successes the Empire State has had in the pageant in recent years. Mallory Hagan, Nina Davuluri and Kira Kazantsev won the title from 2013 to 2015 competing as Miss New York.

A classical vocalist whose pageant platform is “advocating for the arts,” Franklin sang an operatic selection from the opera La Boheme on Sunday night.

She wrote her first song at age 5. It went “Love, love, love, love, is the only thing that matters to me, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.” At the prompting of an Associated Press reporter, she sang the song at her post-victory press conference as audience members snapped their fingers.

Franklin won a $50,000 scholarship along with the crown in the first Miss America pageant to be held without a swimsuit competition.

She said during her onstage interview that she was one of only a small number of minority students in school growing up, but used her love for music and the arts to grow and fit in.

The fourth runner up was Miss Massachusetts Gabriela Taveras; third runner up was Miss Florida Taylor Tyson; second runner up was Miss Louisiana Holli’ Conway, and the first runner up was Miss Connecticut Bridget Oei.

The judges narrowed the field of 51 candidates during the pageant Sunday night from Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.

The decision to drop the swimsuit competition created a good deal of controversy and criticism of current Miss America leadership. Minutes before the nationally televised broadcast began, a comedian warming up the crowd mentioned that there would be no swimsuit competition this year, and was met with loud boos in the hall.

The swimsuits were replaced by onstage interviews, which have generated attention-grabbing remarks from contestants regarding President Trump, and NFL player protests, among other topics. 

Behind the scenes, a revolt is underway among most of the Miss America state organizations who demand that national chairwoman Gretchen Carlson and CEO Regina Hopper resign. 

The former Miss America, Cara Mund, says the two have bullied and silenced her, claims that the women deny. 

Upon taking over at the helm of the Miss America Organization last winter following an email scandal in which former top leaders denigrated the appearance, intellect and sex lives of former Miss Americas, Carlson and Hopper set out to transform the organization, dubbing it “Miss America 2.0.” 

Unhappy with how the swimsuit decision was reached, as well as with other aspects of Carlson and Hopper’s performance, 46 of the 51 state pageant organizations (the District of Columbia is included) have called on the two to resign. 

Mund only appeared at the very end of the pageant before the next winner was crowned. She was not allowed to speak live; instead a 30-second taped segment of her speaking was broadcast. 
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Tiwa the Talking Monkey Uses Tech to Help Revive Nigerian Folk Tales

Posted on by Cobiz

A stuffed toy monkey called Tiwa holds some of Nigeria’s oldest folk tales and is helping to revive the traditional practice of storytelling by appealing to a younger generation. Faith Lapidus reports.
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Djokovic Tops del Potro for 3rd Title at US Open, 14th Slam

Posted on by Corts

The U.S. Open final suddenly appeared to be slipping away from Novak Djokovic. He dropped three consecutive games. He was angered by a crowd roaring for his popular opponent, Juan Martin del Potro. He was, in short, out of sorts.

And then came Sunday’s pivotal game, a 20-minute, 22-point epic. Three times, del Potro was a point from breaking and earning the right to serve to make it a set apiece. Three times, Djokovic steeled himself. Eventually, he seized that game — and del Potro’s best chance to make a match of it.

A year after missing the U.S. Open because of an injured right elbow that would require surgery, Djokovic showed that he is unquestionably back at his best and back at the top of tennis. His returns and defense-to-offense skills as impeccable as ever, Djokovic collected his 14th Grand Slam title and second in a row by getting through every crucial moment for a 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory over 2009 champion del Potro at Flushing Meadows.

Djokovic was better than del Potro on their many lengthy exchanges, using his trademark body-twisting, limb-splaying court coverage to get to nearly every ball, sneakers squeaking around the blue court in Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the roof was closed because of rain.

This was Djokovic’s third championship in New York, along with those in 2011 and 2015. Add in the trophies he has earned at six Australian Opens, one French Open and four Wimbledons, most recently in July, and the 31-year-old Serb pulled even with Pete Sampras for the third-most majors among men, trailing only Roger Federer’s 20 and Rafael Nadal’s 17.

Federer lost in the fourth round in New York, while Nadal retired from his semifinal against del Potro because of a bad right knee. That put the 29-year-old Argentine back in a Grand Slam final for the first time since his breakthrough nine years ago, a comeback for a guy who had four wrist operations in the interim.

Del Potro spoke this week about the low point, in 2015, when he considered quitting the sport. But supported by a dozen or so friends from back home, whose “Ole!” choruses rang around the arena, he climbed up the rankings to a career-high No. 3 by thundering his 100 mph (160 kph) forehands and 135 mph (215 kph) serves.

Those produce free points against so many foes. Not against Djokovic, who always seemed to have all the answers.

Never was that more apparent than the game that stood out on this evening: with Djokovic serving while down 4-3 in the second set. They went back and forth, through eight deuces and all those break opportunities for del Potro, until he slapped one forehand into the net, and another sailed wide.

The game went so long that when it ended, with Djokovic holding to 4-all, spectators began leaving their seats, perhaps thinking it was time for a changeover, even though it wasn’t. That prompted to chair umpire Alison Hughes to chastise them.

It was a brief request, though, unlike her many other pleas for quiet, mainly as fans were shouting and chanting and clapping in support of del Potro. It all bothered Djokovic, who started yelling and gesturing toward the seats. At one moment, he pressed his right index finger to his lips, as if to say, “Shhhhhhh!” Later, after winning a point, Djokovic put that finger to his ear, as if to say, “Who are you cheering for now?!”

When it ended, thanks to a three-game closing run by Djokovic, he flung his racket away and landed on his back, arms and legs spread wide. Moments later, del Potro was in his sideline seat, crying.
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Ford Says It Will Not Move Small Car Production from China to US

Posted on by Coeco

Ford says it has no plans to move production of a small car from China to the United States despite President Donald Trump’s enthusiastic tweet Sunday.

“It would not be profitable to the build the Focus Active in the U.S. given an expected annual sales volume of fewer than 500,000 units,” a Ford statement said.

Ford earlier announced it would not ship the cars from China to the United States because tariffs would make them too expensive, prompting a Trump tweet saying “This is just the beginning. This car can now be BUILT IN THE U.S.A. and Ford will pay no tariffs.”

Ford may keep building the Focus Active in China, but won’t not sell them in the United States.

Trump has imposed tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese imports to remedy what he calls unfair Chinese trade practices. China has retaliated and both countries threaten more tariffs.
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NFL Season Quietly Opens with Minimal Player Protests

Posted on by Corts

The 2018 football season quietly kicked off across the U.S. Sunday without the widespread player protests over alleged police brutality against African-Americans.

Only two players  both on the Miami Dolphins  protested police violence by kneeling during the national anthem.

Another Dolphins player raised his fist in defiance while a member of the San Francisco 49rs did the same. Two players with the Jacksonville Jaguars chose to stay in the locker room.

A number of players knelt or held their fists in the air throughout last season, prompting President Donald Trump to demand team owners fire players who, in his words, “disrespect our flag.”

The players say the protests had nothing to do with the flag. They said they wanted to draw attention to what they say is the large number of young black males shot, beaten, arrested, or harassed by police, sometimes minor infractions or even when they hadn’t committed a crime.

In a tweet, Trump said the low television ratings of an early-season Thursday game last week was because of the protests.

NFL owners attempted to set a policy requiring players to stand for the anthem or stay off the field. But they dropped the rule after the players union objected.

Former San Francisco player Colin Kaepernick, who began the protests in 2016, is suing the NFL for alleged collusion. He claims owners have conspired to keep him off all the teams.

Kaepernick is now the subject of a new advertising campaign by sports clothing company Nike, whose slogan is “Just Do It.” The ads feature a picture of Kaepernick with a caption reading “Believe in something. Even if it costs you everything.”

Nike reports a large jump in sales since it started running the ads.
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CBS Chief Les Moonves Resigns Over Sex Assault Charges

Posted on by Corts

The top executive of broadcasting and media giant CBS, Les Moonves, resigned late Sunday after six more women accused him of sexual assault.

CBS says his resignation is effective immediately. A statement did not directly mention the allegations against him, but said CBS and Moonves will donate $20 million to groups supporting equality for women in the workplace.

Moonves was one of the highest paid and most powerful executives in the broadcasting business.

He was already under investigation for charges of sexually harassing women when the New Yorker magazine reported Sunday that six more women allege that beginning in the 1980s, he forced himself on them, intimidated them, and used violence.

Some of the women say Moonves promised to advance their careers in the entertainment industry in exchange for sexual favors.

Moonves has not issued any statements since his announced resignation. But he has denied what he has called the “appalling accusations” against him, saying they are part of an effort to destroy him and his career.

He said any sexual relations he may have had with his accusers were consensual.

Moonves is eligible to receive as much as $100 million in severance and settlements with CBS.
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Serena Williams Fined $17,000 For Violations During US Open Final

Posted on by Corts

The U.S. Tennis Association fined 2018 U.S. Open runner-up Serena Williams $17,000 Sunday for violations during the women’s final the day before.

Williams will pay for three violations made during the extremely controversial match with 20-year-old Naomi Osaka, who claimed her first grand slam title.

Williams’ first violation for allegedly receiving coaching during a game cost her a warning and $3,000. A second violation, slamming her racket and breaking it, led to a point penalty and a fine of $4,000. The third violation, what umpire Carlos Ramos called verbal abuse when Williams’ called him a “thief” for the point penalty, resulted in her losing a game to penalty and an additional fine of $10,000.

The penalties drew criticism from fans of Williams and many in the tennis world, where a game penalty is extremely rare.

“When a woman is emotional, she’s “hysterical” and she’s penalized for it. When a man does the same, he’s “outspoken” & and there are no repercussions,” Billie Jean King, former World No. 1 professional tennis player and a long-time advocate of women athlete’s rights and equality wrote on Twitter Saturday. “Thank you, @serenawilliams, for calling out this double standard. More voices are needed to do the same.”

​

With her 6-2, 6-4 victory Sunday, Osaka won Japan’s first tennis Grand Slam title.

Williams’ defeat cost her tying for Margaret Court’s record of 24 major titles.
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Can Controversy Fill Swimsuit Void at Miss America Pageant?

Posted on by Corts

The swimsuits are gone, but there has been plenty of controversy surrounding this year’s Miss America competition that could keep viewers tuning in.

       The next Miss America will be crowned around 11 p.m. Sunday on a nationally televised broadcast on ABC from Atlantic City.

 

       This year marks the first time the broadcast will not include a swimsuit competition.

 

       It has been replaced by onstage interviews, which have generated attention-grabbing remarks from contestants regarding President Trump, and NFL player protests, among other topics.

 

       And behind the scenes, a revolt is underway among most of the Miss America state organizations who demand that national chairwoman Gretchen Carlson and CEO Regina Hopper resign.

 

       The outgoing Miss America, Cara Mund, says the two have bullied and silenced her, claims that the women deny.

 

       Through it all, the 51 young women vying for the crown and a $50,000 scholarship have tried to remain focused.

 

       “I am just having the time of my life,” said Miss Massachusetts Gabriela Taveras, who won Friday’s onstage interview preliminary with comments on how Americans traveling abroad should let people from other nation’s know that America supports and wants to help them. “I don’t know what will happen; I just really shared myself as much as I could.”

 

       The 98th Miss America competition will be held at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in the city where it started nearly a century ago as a bathing beauty contest designed to extend the summer tourism season for another week after Labor Day.

 

       Upon taking over at the helm of the Miss America Organization last winter following an email scandal in which former top leaders denigrated the appearance, intellect and sex lives of former Miss Americas, Carlson and Hopper set out to transform the organization, dubbing it “Miss America 2.0.”

 

       The most consequential decision was to drop the swimsuit competition and give the candidates more time to talk onstage about themselves, their platforms and how they would do the job of Miss America. Supporters welcomed it as a long-overdue attempt to make Miss America more relevant to contemporary society, while others mourn the loss of what they consider an integral part of what made Miss America an enduring part of Americana.

 

       Unhappy with how the decision was reached, as well as with other aspects of Carlson and Hopper’s performance, 46 of the 51 state pageant organizations (the District of Columbia is included) have called on the two to resign.

 

       Adding to the intrigue was a remarkable letter released by Mund, the outgoing Miss America, who said Carlson and Hopper had bullied, silenced and marginalized her. They deny doing any of that, saying they have been working tirelessly to move the organization into the future. It remains unknown if Carlson will speak or appear during the broadcast finale.

 

       Onstage interview comments have raised some eyebrows during three nights of non-televised preliminary competition. On Friday, Miss West Virginia Madeline Collins was asked what she feels is the most serious issue facing the nation.

 

       She replied, “Donald Trump is the biggest issue our country faces. Unfortunately he has caused a lot of division in our country.”

 

       A day earlier, Miss Virginia Emili McPhail was asked what advice she would give to NFL players about whether to stand or kneel for the national anthem.

 

       She said not standing during the anthem “is a right you have. But it’s also not about kneeling; it is absolutely about police brutality.”

 

       Wednesday night’s preliminary winners were Miss Florida Taylor Tyson for talent, and Miss Wisconsin Tianna Vanderhei for onstage interview. Thursday night, McPhail won the interview preliminary and Miss Louisiana Holli’ Conway won for talent. Friday, Taveras won for onstage interview and Miss Indiana Lydia Tremaine won for talent. 
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Q&A: With Severe Storms Approaching US, What to Expect?

Posted on by Cosc

Emergency officials are urging residents to prepare for severe storms that are forecast to hit the East Coast and Hawaii over the next week at what is the peak of this year’s hurricane season.

       Coming in from the Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Storm Florence is expected to make landfall Thursday as a level 3 hurricane or greater, steered by winds that could guide it as far south as Florida or as far north as New England.

 

       Meanwhile, Hurricane Olivia is forecast to hit the Hawaiian Islands as a tropical storm on Wednesday, bringing heavy rains just two weeks after Hurricane Lane caused major flooding.

 

       A look at what forecasters are predicting for those storms and the rest of the season:

 

       What do we know about the storms right now?

 

       Tropical Storm Florence was gathering strength Saturday, with the National Hurricane Center expecting it to become a hurricane overnight. Five days out from expected landfall, there’s still wide uncertainty about where it will hit and at what intensity, but the latest models show that it’s most likely to make landfall in the southeast U.S., between northern Florida and North Carolina.

 

       Still, there’s a chance it could be pushed farther north and strike along the mid-Atlantic or New England coast, threatening to make landfall between Virginia and Massachusetts. No matter where it lands, there’s a chance it could stall out and pummel the coasts for days.

 

       The latest models on Saturday show that it’s becoming less likely the storm will veer north and miss the mainland U.S. entirely. At minimum, residents along the East Coast are being told to expect heavy rainfall and storm surges, with the possibility of heavy winds.

 

       Forecasters are also keeping an eye on two storms gathering behind Florence. Tropical Storm Helene was expected to reach the Cabo Verde islands on Saturday but is predicted to miss the mainland U.S. A tropical depression that was upgraded to Tropical Storm Isaac on Saturday is headed toward the Caribbean and brings a greater chance of curving north toward Puerto Rico and the mainland, potentially as a hurricane.

 

       It’s still uncertain whether Hurricane Olivia will make landfall in the Hawaiian Islands, but at minimum meteorologists believe it will come very close and deliver a new round of rainfall.

 

       The National Weather Service has also issued a typhoon watch in the U.S. territory of Guam, where Tropical Storm Mangkhut is approaching from the east and is expected to bring damaging winds by Monday evening.

 

       When will we have a better idea of whether they pose a threat?

 

       Each day brings a clearer picture of the risks posed by the storms. Jeff Masters, co-founder of the Weather Underground service, says airplanes gathering weather information began flying into Florence on Saturday, which should provide data that will lead to a major boost in the reliability of models on Sunday.

 

       Isaac’s route is still wildly uncertain and will be for days. Forecasters are more confident that Olivia will affect Hawaii, with its path and intensity sharpening in the next few days.

 

       What factors give Florence a chance of being a particulary strong hurricane?

 

       By the time it reaches the East Coast, Florence could strengthen into a major hurricane. Winds higher up in Florence have been weakening, giving it time to gather itself and gain strength over the ocean, experts say. And it’s also approaching water where the temperature is slightly warmer than average, providing heat that the storm can convert into stronger winds.

 

       How should people in areas vulnerable to hurricanes stay prepared?

 

       Residents in evacuation zones are urged to have a plan to flee if the order comes. Others should have at least a week’s supply of food, water and medication for their families and their pets.

 

       Brian McNoldy, a senior researcher at the University of Miami’s school of marine and atmospheric science, says residents who stick it out should have gas cans to fuel their cars and power generators, and should take out some cash in case electronic payment systems are down after the storms pass.

 

       To avoid a headache down the line, residents are also encouraged to keep insurance documents in a safe place ahead of time.

 

       North Carolina’s governor already issued a state of emergency on Friday as the storm advanced, while officials in other coastal states say they’re monitoring forecasts.

 

       What expectations do forecasters have for the rest of the hurricane season?

 

       The second week of September is the peak of hurricane season, so the flurry of activity is no surprise to forecasters. After the current round of storms, though, long-range models suggest a lull for several weeks.

 

       Masters said there’s a chance for another active period by mid-October, which would mark the end of the busiest stretch of the season.

 

       “I don’t think we’re quite done yet,” he said, “but certainly as far as September goes, this is the big week.”
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Tiffany Haddish Leads African-American Emmys Sweep

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Tiffany Haddish led an African-American sweep of Emmy Awards for TV series guest actors, a milestone in the entertainment industry’s effort to reflect a diverse society.

 

       Haddish was honored at Saturday’s creative arts Emmys for hosting “Saturday Night Live,” while Katt Williams won the guest comedy actor award for “Atlanta.”

 

       Ron Cephas Jones of “This Is Us” and Samira Wiley of “The Handmaid’s Tale” accepted guest acting honors in the drama series categories.

 

       Cephas, who plays a father who reconnects with his son (series star Sterling K. Brown) after a difficult life of drug addiction and loss, was asked backstage if his character would have been on TV in the past.

 

       “No. Not in this incarnation. … Not that the audience wasn’t ready for it. But maybe the executives, or people that have a say in the writing, probably wouldn’t have been ready for this kind of thing. But now we are. We’re moving forward and moving ahead.”

 

       In another step forward Saturday, Shauna Duggins became the first woman to win an Emmy for stunt coordination for a comedy or variety series for “GLOW,” about women’s wrestling in the 1980s.

 

       The creative arts Emmys set the table for NBC’s Sept. 17 main ceremony, which could also advance inclusivity on-screen and off. Donald Glover, the star and creator of “Atlanta,” won trophies last year for acting and directing and is a multiple nominee again, with his show a top contender for best comedy.

 

       Tracee Ellis Ross of “black-ish” and Issa Rae of “Insecure” are competing for comedy series acting honors. On the drama side, Brown could repeat as best actor for “This Is Us,” while “Killing Eve” star Sandra Oh could become the first actress of Asian descent to win the top award.

 

       Haddish, a hot property since her breakout performance in the movie “Girls Trip,” has been an Oscar presenter and MTV Movie & TV Awards host. She co-stars in the sitcom “The Last O.G.”

 

       She was a no-show at the Emmys, but presenter Tichina Arnold had fun accepting for her.

 

       “Tiffany couldn’t be here tonight. But, guess what, Tiffany! I’ve got your award, girl!” Arnold said, holding up the statuette triumphantly.

 

       “I think you’re going to have to give that back,” presenter Gerald McRaney (“This Is Us”) teased her.

 

       The “Star Trek” television franchise received the Governors Award. William Shatner, star of the original 1960s series, and Sonequa Martin-Green of 2018’s “Star Trek: Discovery” accepted the award, along with other actors with “Star Trek” credentials including Walter Koenig, Jeri Ryan and Levar Burton.

 

       'Star Trek' has endured because it represents an ideal that is greater than the sum of our parts," Shatner said. "The hope ofStar Trek’ is not just that it shows us what we can be tomorrow. But the real hope is how it’s been embraced and watched and reached to see the best version of ourselves.”

 

       An edited version of the two-part creative arts ceremony, held Saturday and Sunday, will be telecast on FXX at 8 p.m. EDT Saturday, Sept. 15.

 

       Among other awards presented Saturday:

       * Character voice-over performance: Alex Borstein, “Family Guy.”

 

       * Animated program: “Rick and Morty.”

 

       * Short-form animated program: “Robot Chicken.”

 

       * Short-form comedy or drama series: “James Corden’s Next James Corden.”

 

       * Actor in a short-form comedy or drama series: James Corden.

 

       * Actress in a short-form comedy or drama series: Christina Pickles, “Break A Hip.”

 

       * Television movie: “USS Callister (Black Mirror).”

 

       * Commercial: “The  Talk,” P&G.

 

       * Music composition for a series (original dramatic score): Ramin Djawadi, “Game of Thrones: The Dragon and the Wolf.”

 

       * Music composition for a limited series, movie or special (original dramatic score): Cyrille Aufort, “March Of The Penguins 2: The Next Step.”
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Some Congolese Artists Focus on Preserving Traditional Dance

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The Democratic Republic of Congo is known across the continent for its high-energy dance culture. The contemporary local pop dances that feature winding waist movements and stiff leg kicks have become famous. But some dance artists are focused on older styles of dance. Ballet Grand Danseurs is a Kinshasa-based group formed in 2011 to preserve the traditional dances of the Congo’s ethnic groups. Chika Oduah has this story from Kinshasa.
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New California Bridge Designed to Provide Earthquake Data

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A replacement bridge being built near a busy U.S. port is being fitted with seismic sensors that will measure earthquake activity in one of the country’s most earthquake-prone regions. The new span is just a few miles from two active faults capable of quakes with a magnitude range of 6.5 to 7. Faith Lapidus reports.
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A Controversial Comeback for a Highly Prized Fish

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A highly prized species of tuna appears to be making a slow but noticeable comeback in the Atlantic Ocean. But as sushi lovers rejoice, conservationists are concerned about the future of the endangered Atlantic bluefin tuna as fishermen seek bigger commercial catches. VOA’s Julie Taboh has more.
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Spike in Halal Meat Industry in US Shows Non-Muslims Are Also Buying

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American companies are producing a growing range of “Halal products” — food prepared to conform to strict Islamic law as prescribed by the Koran.  That includes strict adherence to how an animal is slaughtered, to the way it is prepared for consumption. As VOA’s Vardha Khalil reports, although many Muslims prefer to eat halal meat, that’s not the only reason for the rising demand for halal products.
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Osaka Claims Women’s US Open Title After Williams’ Meltdown

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Naomi Osaka became Japan’s first Grand Slam singles champion after she thumped Serena Williams 6-2 6-4 in a controversial U.S. Open final on Saturday, with the American suffering a mesmerizing meltdown after being handed a code violation.

It was drama-filled conclusion to a final that was rich with story lines but will now go down as one of the most controversial Grand Slam finals of all time.

There was much riding on the match for both women, with Osaka bidding to become the first man or woman from Japan to win a Grand Slam singles title and Williams poised to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 major titles.

In the end it was Osaka making history, but on a day of bizarre events her victory will be a only footnote to what is sure to go down as one of the most infamous matches ever played at Flushing Meadows.

The chaotic finish filled with screaming, tears and jeers cast a cloud over what should have been Osaka’s shining moment.

Standing on the podium, waiting to be handed her trophy and a winner’s check for $3.8 million, Osaka heard only boos as an angry crowd took out their frustration on Portuguese chair umpire Carlos Ramos, who stood to the side.

“I know everyone was cheering for her and I’m sorry it had to end like this,” said Osaka. “It was always my dream to play Serena in the U.S. Open finals. … I’m really grateful I was able to play with you.”

Coach’s signals

With Osaka in control of the match after taking the first set, Ramos sent Williams into a rage when he handed the 23-time Grand Slam champion a code violation in the second game of the second set after he spotted the American’s coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, making some hand signals from the player’s box.

A string of bad behavior followed from Williams and she went on to incur a point penalty for smashing her racket before being slapped with a game penalty after she launched into a verbal attack against Ramos, accusing him of being “a liar” and “a thief for stealing a point from me.”

The game penalty put Osaka 5-3 up and the 20-year-old Japanese kept her cool to pull off the win.

Mouratoglou later admitted he had been coaching, but in another strange twist an unrepentant Williams continued to deny she had received any advice and was instead a victim of sexism.

“He [Ramos] alleged that I was cheating, and I wasn’t cheating,” said Williams. “I’ve seen other men call other umpires several things.

“I’m here fighting for women’s rights and for women’s equality and for all kinds of stuff.

“For me to say ‘thief’ and for him to take a game, it made me feel like it was a sexist remark.”

Almost lost in the chaos was a fearless and cool display from Osaka.

Before Williams’ meltdown, Osaka had already put the 36-year-old under rarely seen pressure.

Osaka had given Williams plenty of respect but no other concessions as she grabbed the early break on a double fault by her idol for a 2-1 first set lead she would not let go.

Playing on tennis’ biggest stage in her first Grand Slam final, the significance of the moment did not faze Osaka, while Williams, contesting her 31st major final, looked unsteady.

Previous incident

Williams’ implosion was not a totally unfamiliar sight for tennis fans, who watched a similar meltdown nine years earlier at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Playing the semifinals against Kim Clijsters, Williams flew into a rage after a line judge called her for a foot fault, leaving a match point down to the Belgian.

Williams launched into an expletive-laced rant at the official. She waved her racket in the lineswoman’s direction and then shook a ball in her clenched fist as she threatened to “shove it down” her throat.

Organizers fined her $10,500 at the end of the tournament for her unsportsmanlike behavior, and she was later fined an additional $175,000 and put on probation for two years by the Grand Slam Committee.

Williams could face further sanctions for her actions on Saturday against Osaka; the Women’s Tennis Association said in a statement that it would be looking into the incident.

“There are matters that need to be looked into that took place during the match,” said the WTA. “For tonight, it is time to celebrate these two amazing players, both of whom have great integrity.”
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