Travis Shumake: NHRA's first openly gay driver to debut Friday

Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Travis Shumake will make his debut Friday as the first openly gay driver in history to complete in a national event on the National Hot Rod Association racing circuit.

"There are two things that keep me going," Shumake told KSNT News on Thursday. "LGBTQ youth should have someone to look up to and to know they don't have to fit into a cookie cutter mold.

"They can be a racecar driver. We need to continue to evolve."

The start follows a series of unfortunate sequences, which delayed the debut he planned nearly two years ago. He obtained his Nostalgia Funny Car license in June, ending his run of bad luck, which included crash during a November qualifying event, stolen safety gear and failure to qualify for another race.

Now he plans to drive his rainbow decaled, Pride Kansas sponsored car in the 2022 NHRA Nationals on Friday at Heartland Motorsports Park in Topeka, Kan.

RIP

Freya the walrus euthanised in Oslo due to fears for human safety PROPERTY

SUN, 14 AUG, 2022 -

ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTER

A walrus that has attracted crowds of people in Oslo has been put down by Norwegian authorities due to fears it posed a risk to humans.

The 600kg female, known affectionately as Freya, became a popular attraction in Norway in recent weeks despite warnings from officials that people should refrain from getting close and posing for pictures with the massive marine mammal.

Freya liked to clamber on small boats, causing damage to them.

Walruses are protected and as recently as last month officials said they hoped Freya would leave of her own accord and that euthanasia would be a last resort.

The walrus named Freya has been euthanised (Tor Erik Schroder/NTB Scanpix via AP)

Norway’s Directorate of Fisheries said Freya was put down early on Sunday “based on an overall assessment of the continued threat to human safety”.

“Through on-site observations the past week it was made clear that the public has disregarded the current recommendation to keep a clear distance to the walrus,” a spokesperson said.

“Therefore, the directorate has concluded, the possibility for potential harm to people was high and animal welfare was not being maintained.”

The head of the directorate, Frank Bakke-Jensen, said other options — including moving the animal elsewhere — were considered but authorities concluded it was not a viable option.

“We have sympathies for the fact that the decision can cause reactions with the public, but I am firm that this was the right call,” Mr Bakke-Jensen said. “We have great regard for animal welfare but human life and safety must take precedence.”

Atlantic walruses normally live in the Arctic. It is unusual but not unheard of for them to travel into the North Sea and Baltic Sea.

Norway walrus 'Freya' could be euthanized if humans don't stay away

Freya the walrus is seen in Frognerkilen Bay in Norway on July 20. Officials say that humans are getting too close to the animal, creating a potential danger that may ultimately require that she be euthanized. Photo by Trond Reidar Teigen/EPA-EFE


Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Norwegian officials warned Friday they may have to euthanize a 1,500-pound beloved walrus if humans don't stay away from her in Oslo Harbor.

Freya the walrus can often be seen sunbathing in the harbor and has won legions of fans who want to catch a glimpse. But the animal's sheer size makes her a danger for sightseers if they get too close.

The walrus has already been blamed for sinking several unwitting boats that that ventured too close.

Norwegian government spokesperson Nadia Jdaini said there are also serious concerns from experts about Freya's health, which has deteriorated recently.

Jdaini said that people have recently been seen swimming with the walrus and approaching it with children to take photographs.

"The fact that the walrus has become an attraction escalates the need for further measures," Jdaini said according to BBC News. "Our biggest fear is that people could get hurt."

"In the meantime, the distance recommendations and clarifications about not swimming with the walrus are repeated: We would again -- strongly -- recommend that the public keep their distance where the walrus has been observed and not bathe with it."

Observers first noticed Freya hanging around Oslo last month and named her after the Norse goddess of beauty and love. Walruses are protected species and usually live closer to the Arctic.

Gaijatra Festival of Nepal: A procession that commemorates the dead



ANI
14th August 2022

By Binod Prasad 

Adhikari Kathmandu [Nepal] August 13 (ANI): 

The festival of Gaijatra that is taking place in Nepal after a massive gap of three years is a procession which commemorates the dead.

It is a time-honoured tradition where people of all ages in the guise of cows and lunatics go around the city, wearing odd costumes to commemorate those who died in the last year.

Donned in cross-dress or impersonating a cow, people often go touring the town during the festival which is meant to count the number of deaths.

Bereaved families offer fruits, bread, beaten rice, curd, and money to those participating in the procession including the cows.

"The impersonated cows that are taken out onto streets follow the scientific technique introduced in the medieval period to prepare the statistics of deceased. It is seen that the impersonated cows hang on the photo of their bygone beloved ones on their neck. In order to show on the record of the deaths as well as to overcome the sorrow and entertain, this festival is observed," Prayagiman Pradhan, a resident of the ancient town of Kirtipur told ANI.

The ancient town of Kirtipur serving as a hill station on the outskirts of Kathmandu also features some real-life as well as dramatic characters along with impersonated cows.

"The Purnas has dictated about sending on the (impersonated) cows and the bereaving house should take out a cow in order to make departed soul cross the 'Baitarni' river would need a tail of cow to get across. Some participants here also are seen dressed in rugged clothes- they are from families residing in Kirtipur who lately have constructed a house. They come out in the form of beggars instead of a cow because they have spent a large sum of money building their shelter and they go around collecting alms to celebrate the festival," Pradhan added.

As per sayings, the festival derives its name from the religious belief that the deceased, during their journey to heaven, crossed a legendary river by grabbing the tail of a cow.

The tails of cows demonstrated today are also credited for helping the deceased one to get across Baitarni, a legendary river to get into heaven.

The Garuda Purana, one of the scriptures mentions that on the 11th day of death rites, people have to perform "Brishotsarga"- release an ox or bull, with a belief that it would give peace to the deceased soul.

"In Kathmandu the beats of musical instruments and other performances are absent. But here in Kirtipur, a large swath of people gather commonly and celebrate with fanfare. I also had a pleasant experience watching the procession," Rajan Shrestha, one of the travellers who came to see the procession to hill-town told ANI.

As it would be costlier, some historians claim GaiJatra is celebrated as an alternative to it on the day of Bhadra Krishna Pratipada and has since been celebrated.

While some of the manuscripts mention that the festival started as 'saa yaa(t)' or 'gai yatra' meaning 'journey of the cow' during the time of Jayasthiti Malla, around 600 years ago. But, it was during the reign of Pratap Malla in Kathmandu, Jagat Prakash Malla in Bhaktapur and Siddhi Narsingh Malla in Lalitpur that the Gai Jatra turned into a pilgrimage and a festival, with musical instruments.

The person who takes part in this brief pilgrimage of cows praying for the salvation of departed souls should eat clean and should maintain the hygiene of high level.

The ancient tradition which still is practised in the present time is credited to have started in 500 Nepal Sambat (popular amongst the Newari Community of Nepal). Historians have claimed that people use to glorify the deeds of the deceased ones through songs and hymns in order to inform and encourage others.

This festival is also marked by the mockery of the wrongdoings of the politicos and other concerned groups through the means of drama, music and other means of performance. 

(ANI)

DRUZE SPOKESPERSON

Jumblatt to Hezbollah: Lebanon’s President Should be Accepted by All Sides

Saturday, 13 August, 2022 - 07:

The head of the Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Jumblatt, and political advisor to Hezbollah's Secretary General Hussein Khalil (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Beirut - Mohamed Choucair

The head of the Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Jumblatt, and political advisor to Hezbollah's Secretary General Hussein Khalil have discussed several problems facing Lebanon, mainly the upcoming presidential elections.

The meeting was attended by PSP officials MP Wael Abu Faour and former Minister Ghazi al-Aridi, and top Hezbollah official Wafiq Safa.

Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that discussions focused on their differences over Hezbollah's weapons and Lebanon’s defense strategy.

According to the sources, the meeting also reviewed the presidential elections, but no candidates were discussed. They instead addressed Jumblatt's rejection to support a candidate backed by Hezbollah.

They pointed out that Jumblatt called for electing a president who is not provocative and is accepted by all political parties.

The sources quoted Khalil as saying that Hezbollah seeks to form a new government and elect the president on time after Jumblatt warned that the country cannot afford a presidential vacuum.

The term of President Michel Aoun will end in October 2022.

During Thursday’s meeting, the PSP chief addressed the issue of Hezbollah sending drones over the Karish field and asked whether it was an Iranian message to improve the terms of its negotiations on its nuclear program.

Hezbollah said in July it had sent three unarmed drones towards the Israeli Mediterranean gas rig, which the Israeli military said it had intercepted.

Khalil stressed that Iran does not need drones to improve its position and that the unmanned aircraft aimed to improve Lebanon's position in the US-mediated negotiations with Israel on the maritime border demarcation.

The sources noted that Jumblatt asked about the possibility of a new war, and Khalil explained that if Israel continues to deprive Lebanon of its right, all options are on the table.

The head of the PSP asserted that Lebanon could not afford a new war, especially in light of the deteriorating economic conditions.

State Department offers $10 million reward for ransomware hackers


The State Department issued an award for hackers connected to the Russian-backed Conti ransomware group. Photo by Christopher Schirner/Flickr


Aug. 12 (UPI) -- The State Department said Thursday it is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the unmasking and location of five individuals with connections to the notorious Conti ransomware group.

The department released the online aliases of the hackers that have pledged support to the Russian government. The department accuses the individuals of malicious cyberactivities against U.S. critical infrastructure in violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

The online aliases included the names Target, Reshaev, Professor, Tramp and Dandis.

Conti, also known as Wizard Spider, is a Russian government-linked ransomware-as-a-service group that has targeted infrastructure in the United States and its Western allies.

RELATED Report: Unregulated RenBridge helps criminals launder $540M in crypto

"After Russian military forces invaded neighboring Ukraine in February 2022, Conti ransomware operators pledged support to the Russian government and threatened critical infrastructure organizations of countries perceived to carry out cyberattacks or war against the Russian government," the State Department said.

Federal officials said Conti was first detected in 2019 and has been identified in more than 1,000 ransomware operations affecting digital infrastructures in the United States and overseas, including law enforcement agencies, along with emergency medical services and dispatch centers.

"These healthcare and first responder networks are among the more than 400 organizations worldwide victimized by Conti, over 290 of which are located in the United States," the State Department said.

RELATED North Korean hackers targeting hospitals and healthcare providers, U.S. agencies warn

"Conti operators typically steal victims' files and encrypt the servers and workstations in an effort to force a ransom payment from the victim. The ransom letter instructs victims to contact the actors through an online portal to complete the transaction."

While the ransom demanded to get control of the files back varied wildly, they have asked for as much as $25 million.

Last month, U.S. law enforcement recovered roughly half a million dollars in ransomware payments made to North Korean hackers by victims including a medical center in Kansas and a healthcare provider in Colorado.

AFRICA

Elephants Relocated to New Home in National Park Ahead of World Elephant Day

The Associated Press

Aug 13, 2022

Elephants in a file photo. (Michael Siebert/Pixabay)

There’s precious cargo onboard.

With a prod of encouragement, the elephant steps out into its new home, Kasungu National Park.

It’s in a bit of a bad mood after its long journey.

But after a warning charge at the humans gathered nearby, it walks off into the forest.

The animal is in the last batch of elephants to be relocated here from Liwonde National Park, 350 kilometers away.

Two hundred and sixty-three of them have been moved here since June 10 (2022).

The Liwonde site was overpopulated with elephants, causing conflict with local communities.

But Kasungu has plenty of room for these large mammals.

“Most of the time issues of human-elephant conflict come in when animals go outside the park looking for food or water. Kasungu has good water sources and it does good vegetation cover so the incidences of elephants going out is a bit controlled because they have food inside the park,” explains Petros Kachulu, Kasungu National Park Manager.

Kasungu lost its elephant population to poaching.

According to government figures, they dwindled from 1,200 in the 1970s to just 50 in 2015.

But security has been improved in recent years, so the authorities are confident the new arrivals will be safe here.

“The importance of good habitat is that you provide the necessary environment for them to multiply and it also helps to reduce the human-wildlife conflict because instead of going into the community looking for food they are able to stay in the park,” says Kachulu.

Not everyone is happy to welcome the elephants.

Some local people believe the park should have done more to protect the surrounding area before accepting the transfer.

They are worried the animals will encroach on their homes.

“It is saddening to note that elephants have expeditiously been brought here before the park fence was completed,” says Eliot Linyangwa, a local leader living within the Kasungu National Park.

“The arrival of the elephants will likely affect the works on the fence, which is not good. The operators of the park however have to utilise the computerised system that has come along with the elephants and control them from going outside the park.”

The relocation of elephants was carried out by the Department of Parks and Wildlife in Malawi, African Parks, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the African Savannah Elephant as endangered as over 60 percent of their population is estimated to have been lost since 1965.

August 12 marks International Elephant Day.

World Elephant Day promotes protection of pachyderms

World Elephant Day was founded in 2012 by Canadian filmmaker

 Patricia Sims and Thailand's Elephant Reintroduction Foundation. 

File Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo

Aug. 12 (UPI) -- World Elephant Day, marked annually on Aug. 12, was founded by filmmaker Patricia Sims and Thailand's Elephant Reintroduction Foundation to promote the protection of Asian and African elephants.

The first World Elephant Day was held Aug. 12, 2012, with its official founders listed as Canadian filmmaker Sims and the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation, which is dedicated to safely returning captive elephants to the wild.

The annual observance is now marked in partnership with more than 100 elephant conservation organizations worldwide.

The World Elephant Society was founded in 2015 as a public charity to support World Elephant Day campaigns and events. Sims serves as its president and executive director.

"World Elephant Day is a rallying call for people to support organizations that are working to stop the illegal poaching and trade of elephant ivory and other wildlife products, protect wild elephant habitat, and provide sanctuaries and alternative habitats for domestic elephants to live freely," Sims said on the holiday's website.

Blockade Australia shut down Sydney with climate change protests. Now they're fighting arrests in court

Background Briefing / By Geoff Thompson

Elizabeth Hartrick took part in the Blockade Australia protests which brought Sydney to a standstill in June.

(ABC News: Danielle Bonica)

In a white-walled room inside a community centre in Sydney's inner west, about 20 people are sitting in a circle.

One of them, a young man in a beanie, starts reading from a pamphlet:

"Corporate and institutional power is driving the climate crisis and blocking climate action."

He's a member of Blockade Australia, the protest group which shut down parts of Sydney in late June.

Today — June 26 — is the day before that happened.

"The very system we're in is one of domination, so to resist that we have to be able to organise in a different way — organising non-hierarchically and co-existing non-hierarchically."

Sitting on a floor of rough grey carpet tiles, the small audience is nodding in agreement as the young man in a beanie continues.

"Blockade Australia is a coordinated response that aims to develop a culture of effective resistance through strategic direct action."

Who are Blockade Australia?

Police say they feared for their lives, protesters say they were startled by armed men who refused to identify themselves. What happened in Colo on Sunday, and what has it got to do with NSW's beefed-up protest laws?

This is the planning and preparation workshop held 24 hours before the protests which stopped thousands of Sydney commuters from getting to work on time on June 27.

"This is systemic, a system called Australia, a system that's been extracting and dispossessing on this continent for centuries now."

Phrases like "so-called Australia" are common parlance here. An Aboriginal flag features prominently on the wall above the man addressing the group.

The message, essentially, is this: Australia's economy is inherently exploitative and extractive and if catastrophic global warming is to have a chance of being prevented, Australia as we know it must be stopped in its tracks.

Not surprisingly, for politicians, the police and much of the public, that's a lot to swallow.

But it makes perfect sense to Elizabeth Hartrick who is at the back of the room that Sunday, sitting on a stool.

"People say to us over and over again, isn't there another way? Can't you be more polite and write letters and do things through the proper channels?"

"But it hasn't worked. It hasn't worked."

Elizabeth Hartrick puts Blockade Australia stickers up on a Melbourne street.

(ABC News: Danielle Bonica)

'The right to protest is on a slippery slope'

Elizabeth is a retired Melbourne university administrator and researcher, and a grandmother, too. She's 74, but bristles with bright-eyed energy.

She has form as a climate change protester in Melbourne with groups like Extinction Rebellion. She's had run-ins with the police before but has no convictions.

"I figure that what I can do with the last couple of decades I've got of my life, [is] put myself on the line to make a noise and to keep attention focused on the issue," she says.

Inside the climate activists' plan to shut down Australia

When protesters disrupted one of Australia’s largest container facilities, the NSW government responded with new broad-sweeping laws that carried two-year jail terms. Now, as scores of demonstrators appear before the courts, some are asking whether those new offences have gone too far. Reporter Geoff Thompson investigates.

Elizabeth has travelled here from Victoria to attend the workshop. There are classes on how to occupy space in non-violent ways and a medical briefing telling people what to do if they're pepper-sprayed.

But it's the legal briefing that Elizabeth's come to hear.

"The main thing is this issue with the punitive, repressive fines and jail terms that they're threatening us with," she says.

Elizabeth's referring to amendments to the NSW Roads Act, which passed back in April.

The changes make it an offence punishable by up to two years jail and/or a $22,000 fine if anyone damages or seriously disrupts or obstructs the Sydney Harbour Bridge or Tunnel or "other main roads".

Everyone here, the day before the June protests, knows about these laws because they're being told about them by the young woman leading the legal briefing:

"This is a scare tactic and it's just one of the ways that this devolution of protest laws and human rights, the right to protest, is kind of on a slippery slope in so-called Australia."

Elizabeth's tuned in and confident she can avoid arrest.

"I think I can handle myself like I have in the past. If I'm told to get off the road by the police, then I'll just get off the road," she says.

"So I'm pretty sure that I can avoid getting arrested in this sort of situation."

WATCH

Duration: 1 minute 5 seconds1m 5s

Police break up climate protesters in Sydney CBD

The protest

It's about 8am on Monday, June 27, and Sydney's Harbour Tunnel is in crisis.

At the North Sydney end, a small white car has parked across several lanes, stopping thousands of commuters from getting to work on time.

Inside that car, a young woman is broadcasting via Facebook live, speaking into her phone with her neck bike-locked to the car's steering wheel.

"My name is Mali. I'm 22. I'm currently locked on to a car at the start of the Sydney Harbour Tunnel in protest of the climate destruction that is happening on this continent right now."

Mali Cooper has travelled to Sydney from flood-devastated Lismore.

"I've watched mass devastation happen up there this year with two one in 100-year floods that have happened. This is climate change. It is here. It is happening now."

As Mali speaks, a growing number of traffic-jammed commuters are getting furious.

"There are some really angry people who are screaming and threatening me and banging on doors. The police are on their way and I'm not sure how long this is going to happen for. I'm a bit overwhelmed."

Behind Mali, a man is approaching her car window. Her camera captures him leaning in … his face distorted with fury.

"You're f**king everyone's day up, you dumb c**t. Get the f**k out of the way. You f**ing selfish c**t."

At the same time, on the other side of the harbour, Elizabeth Hartrick is among the Blockade Australia protesters walking out of Hyde Park and marching down various streets in Sydney's CBD.

She's nowhere near the Sydney Harbour Bridge or the Tunnel and manages to avoid arrest.

"I'm honoured to be amongst them. I'm happy to be here. I think we're all fighting for a good cause. I'm really glad to be on their side," she says.

Ten people were arrested that day and nine were charged. Elizabeth isn't among them.

So she heads out again for the second day of protests in Sydney's CBD.

 

Blockade Australia protests in June 2022

(ABC News: Jake Lapham)

‘You've been placed under arrest'

The next day, I catch up with her a bit after 8am near the low sandstone wall that wraps around Hyde Park in Sydney's CBD.

"We just want to keep putting the pressure on, putting the pressure on. We're at the pointy end so that people start to take notice of what the reality is," she says.

Elizabeth's fired up.

"You've got to work hard to understand the immensity of the problem that we are facing. And very few people really do.

"They sort of say, Oh yeah, we know about climate change. We've been hearing about it for years. Well, but what the f**k has happened?

"You know, we try to do stuff with our plastic and recycling and things like that. It's going to take a much bigger… a much bigger project"

Members of Blockade Australia the day after the Harbour Bridge protest.

(AAP: Flavio Brancaleone)

As we're talking, a detective approaches us.

"We're from South Sydney police. What was your name, sorry?

"At this stage, I'll just let you know that you're … under arrest in regards to yesterday's protest. You've been identified as being present there."

Elizabeth is being arrested not for what she was doing right now, but because she was filmed the day before marching with the protesters.

"It's alleged that whilst you were present and protesting, you were disturbing a major road, and that's now a new offence under the Crimes Act. And so for that offence, yesterday, you've been placed under arrest."

She's been charged under the section which refers to the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel.

In other words, she's been identified as someone who obstructed one of the "other main roads" that have been attached to a section that deals with the Sydney Harbour bridge and Tunnel.

'We had to take action'

To find out which roads the amendments to the Roads Act apply to, I go to see the NSW Roads Minister Natalie Ward.

It turns out that when it comes to climate change protesters, she's experienced them herself.

"One morning I sat there on the Spit Bridge in that traffic and saw the family next to me in the car with three kids in their school uniforms trying to get to school, a stressed parent, people trying to get to work and just go about their daily lives," she says.

"That really brought home the scale of the interruption. So we felt that we had to take action."

NSW Roads Minister Natalie Ward says protest is a "fundamental right of everybody in this country". (AAP: Bianca De Marchi)

Ward says she's a passionate supporter of more action on climate change and supports the right to protest.

"That for me is a fundamental right of everybody in this country. But we also need to balance that with our obligations as a community to respect each other."

Looking out from her office window in Sydney's Martin Place, there's a spectacular view. I ask the minister if she can point out the roads which it's OK to walk on without fear of being jailed for two years.

"There's nothing illegal about walking on streets," she says.

"You can't walk on the roads unless you've organised to do so, unless you're crossing wilfully at traffic lights when the light is green.

"I don't want to be trite about this. This is important, sensible legislation that I think, you know, puts in place a real standard for behaviour."

Essentially the minister is saying that you can walk on roads as long as you're acting peacefully and not obstructing them.

She tells me the list of roads which you can't obstruct is easy to find.

"We've put out there where … those roads are and are not."

But the web address provided to me only links to a general page for Transport NSW.

After further enquiries, her office provides me with a list of roads to which the amendments apply.

Almost 8,000 roads, tollways and freeways are included in that list, along with about 700 "main roads" across NSW.

Essentially this means that unauthorised protesters in NSW who obstruct hundreds of main roads can be jailed for up to two years under a law designed to protect the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel.

Elizabeth Hartrick at home in Melbourne(ABC News: Danielle Bonica)

The waiting game

All of the Blockade Australia protesters have pleaded not guilty to the offence of obstructing the Bridge, the Tunnel or "other main roads".

Except 22-year-old Mali Cooper — who parked her car across the entrance to Sydney Harbour Tunnel in North Sydney.

None of their hearings are expected to be before court before next year.

Until then, many are banned from entering NSW and from using encrypted apps on their phones or from communicating with each other in any way at all.

Elizabeth Hartrick is back at home in Melbourne, feeling isolated and alone.

She's been hoping to soon visit her grandchildren in New Zealand, but strict bail conditions may prevent her.

In spite of all this — her resolve is unwavering.

"I can't not do this. I can't not do this. I can't just sit at home, you know, being a retired granny. And not get out there and bloody do what I can," she says.

"Social change hasn't happened without some kind of rebellion or revolution. And that we've got to do it … we can't keep sleepwalking."

Additional reporting by Sean Ruse

Farmers concerned at potential foot-and-mouth spread as Australia and Indonesia tackle outbreak

By Sastra Wijaya and Hellena Souisa

The Indonesian government and farmers are implementing strict controls to contain the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.(Reuters: Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana)

Nathaniel Rose kept his shoes and sandals separate from his main baggage as he travelled home from Bali to Melbourne last week.

During his 10-day holiday on the Indonesian island, Mr Rose said he was aware of concerns that tourists visiting Bali might bring foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) back to Australia, including via contaminated soil on footwear.

"I did one trip to Mount Batur that could be considered rural. We walked through the village along the dirt track," he said.

As per Australian government advice, Mr Rose thoroughly cleaned his footwear before he got on the plane.

"There were foot-and-mouth disease signs at Denpasar Airport," he said.

"When we got off [the plane] there were biosecurity officers and we had to walk on a disinfectant mat."

Nathaniel Rose took precautions to ensure he did not bring the disease from Indonesia to Australia.(Supplied)

An outbreak of FMD could devastate Australia's livestock industries, cost the Australian economy around $80 billion, and lead to many animals being slaughtered to control the disease.

Those potential consequences are why the agriculture industry here has been on tenterhooks since an outbreak began in Indonesia in May, with some calling for a travel ban.

Farmers and authorities in Indonesia are working hard to contain the virus's spread, while the Australian government this week committed $10 million towards biosecurity measures in Indonesia to tackle the outbreak.

FMD is a highly contagious animal disease that affects all cloven-hoofed animals and is carried in many ways, including by live animals, in meat and dairy products, soil and untreated hides.

It is commonly spread between animals through inhalation, ingestion and contact with infected animals, but is not transmitted to humans, including by eating affected meat.

The virus is different to hand, foot and mouth disease common in children.
Local farmers implement strict controls

Greenfields Indonesia own the biggest dairy farm in East Java.

(Supplied: greenfieldsdairy.com)

The outbreak in Indonesia is the biggest since 1990 and is estimated to be costing the local economy $200 million per month.

Since May, 479,000 animals have been infected with FMD in Indonesia.

More than 9,000 animals have been killed to try to control the virus's spread, while another 5,189 have died from the disease.

The province of East Java currently has the highest number of infections, with a mix of farms in that area, including smaller traditional farms and others run by large companies.

East Java's biggest dairy farm is owned by Greenfields Indonesia, a company established by a group of Australian and Indonesian entrepreneurs.

The provinces in Indonesia with the most foot-and-mouth cases.

(ABC News graphic: Jarrod Fankhauser)

The farm, with 16,000 cattle, has implemented strict biosecurity measures, despite no cases of the virus being detected there.

Richard Slaney, from Greenfields Indonesia, said the company's cattle underwent frequent health checks and were being vaccinated against the disease.

Mr Slaney said there were also strict controls to clean workers' dirty clothing and footwear, vehicle tyres and animal feed.

"No outside visitors are allowed to come [to the property]," he added.

He said vehicles were sprayed from "top to bottom".

“All vehicles have gone through an additional cleaning process and very strict controls are also applied to the milk tank transport vehicles," he said.

Small farmers can't afford vaccines

Robi Gustiar says some farmers are having trouble accessing vaccines.

(Supplied)

Robi Gustiar is a cattle farmer and the secretary-general of the Indonesian Cattle and Buffalo Breeders Association that represents small farmers who have between five and 30 cattle.

He said smaller farmers were also doing what they could to control the outbreak.

"For farmers who have up to five cattle, they spray disinfectant in locations around cattle pens and on vehicles."

He said some farmers were still waiting for vaccines from the government, while medium and larger traditional farmers were proposing to purchase vaccines independently to access them faster.

Larger farms, like the Greenfields farm in East Java, have better access to vaccines.

(Supplied: greenfieldsdairy.com)

Mr Gustiar said small farmers could not afford vaccines and distribution was not easy.

"Indonesia is an archipelago country, so transportation is a problem. They [need to] make sure the is vaccine still active when it reaches the cattle," he explained.

Australian government support for Indonesia announced this week included supplying more vaccines to Indonesia as well as protective equipment, training and expertise.

Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said $4 million of the $10 million dollars allocated was for vaccine purchasing.

"This is on top of support already announced for Indonesia, which included 1 million doses of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine and almost half a million doses of lumpy skin disease vaccine already committed by the Australian government," he said.

Disaster authority bolsters Indonesia's response

Indonesia has procured 3 millions vaccine doses to tackle the disease.

(Supplied: FAO Eko Prianto)

According to Indonesia's Foot and Mouth Taskforce, more than 1.2 million doses of vaccine have been administered to animals.

Spokesperson Wiku Adisasmito said he hoped that the outbreak would be under control by the end of the year.

Mr Adisasmito added that there had been no new reported infections in six provinces, including Bali, but cases were still spreading in other areas.

The taskforce is overseeing the implementation of a raft of biosecurity measures, including treatment and recovery of livestock, livestock testing, conditional slaughter and vaccination.

"Foot mats and disinfectant spray [have been placed] at the arrival and departure of Ngurah Rai [Denpasar] and Sentani International [Jayapura] airports, and other areas that are included in the foot-and-mouth-free zone," Mr Adisasmito said.

Professor Rochadi Tawaf from the Committee for Agricultural Empowerment — an not-for-profit organisation in West Java — said Indonesia's response to the outbreak had improved since the National Disaster Management Authority was assigned to tackle the outbreak.

"For me, this means that the government is already handling the situation correctly and making it better, and the farmers also made their contribution by managing their cattle better than before," he said.

Farmers remain concerned about disease spread

Welly Salim is originally from Indonesia and has been in the cattle business for 25 years.

For the past 10 years, he has lived in central Queensland, near Rockhampton, and owns about 1,400 cattle.

Welly Salim now owns a cattle farm in central Queensland.(Supplied)

Despite all the precautions, he, like other farmers, remains concerned about the possibility of FMD reaching Australia.

Mr Salim said that, while the Indonesian government may not have done enough to reassure Australian farmers, some comments from Australians politicians have inflamed the situation.

"I think some comments from politicians are over-statements on the possibility of tourists bringing back the virus, but the threat is real," he said.

"We need to find the most-friendly solution for Indonesia, to help Indonesia to solve the problem."

Mr Salim pointed out there would also be a huge impact on Indonesia as well if the disease spread to Australia.

"Indonesia is the biggest market for live cattle export from Australia," he said.

"Indonesia needs around 600,000 tonnes of boxed beef every year."

UK's foot-and-mouth disease pain remains

Robert Craig's memories of foot-and-mouth disease tearing through the north of England are more than 20 years old, but they're as painful as ever.

Opposition Leader Odinga Ahead in Kenya's Presidential Race, Results Show
August 13, 2022 
Reuters

Kenya's opposition leader and presidential candidate Raila Odinga of the Azimio la Umoja (Declaration of Unity) coalition, joins performers at a campaign rally ahead of the forthcoming general election at the Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu, Kenya, August 1, 2022.

NAIROBI —

Veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga led Kenya's presidential race, official election results showed Saturday, pushing Deputy President William Ruto into second place.

With just over 26% of votes counted, Odinga had 54% and Ruto had 45%, according to results provided by the Kenyan election commission and displayed on a large screen at a national tallying center in the capital, Nairobi.

East Africa's wealthiest nation and most vibrant democracy held presidential, parliamentary and local elections Tuesday.

Ruto and Odinga are in a tight race to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta, who has reached his two-term limit. Kenyatta fell out with Ruto after the last election and has endorsed Odinga.

Official vote tallying has been proceeding slowly, fueling public anxiety.

Election commission chairman Wafula Chebukati blamed party agents, who are allowed to scrutinize results forms before they are added to the final tally.

"Agents in this exercise cannot proceed ... as if we are doing a forensic audit," he told a news briefing Friday.

"We are not moving as fast as we should. This exercise needs to be concluded as soon as possible."

Representatives from Odinga’s and Ruto's coalitions did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Reuters news agency and other media outlets have been tallying results forms from 291 constituencies posted on the election commission website. These have not yet been verified, and this tally is running well ahead of the official one.

As of 1200 GMT, Reuters had tallied 237 forms, which showed Ruto in the lead with nearly 53% of the vote, compared to just over 46% for Odinga. Two other candidates had less than 1% between them.

Nineteen other forms could not be included in the count because they were unreadable or were missing information.

The forms Reuters is tallying are preliminary and the results subject to change. After the forms are uploaded to the commission's website, Kenyan election law requires that they are physically brought to the national tallying center, where party representatives can examine them for any discrepancies.

The process was designed as a safeguard against the kind of rigging allegations that have triggered violence after previous polls. More than 1,200 people were killed after a disputed 2007 election and more than 100 killed after a disputed 2017 election.

The winning candidate must receive 50% of the national vote plus one, and at least 25% of the vote from 24 of 47 counties.

The commission has until Tuesday to declare a winner.

Reporter’s Notebook: Arrest at Iraqi Kurdistan Protest ‘Violated’ Rights

August 12, 2022 
Snur Karim

A screenshot of reporter Snur Karim doing a Facebook Live broadcast for VOA Kurdish in Iraqi Kurdistan shortly before authorities arrested her and video journalist Mohammed Azad Majeed. (VOA Kurdish)

SULAYMANIYAH, IRAQI KURDISTAN —

Journalists working for VOA had their live broadcast interrupted as authorities moved in to arrest them while they were covering a protest in the Iraqi Kurdistan city of Sulaymaniyah.

Reporter Snur Karim and video journalist Mohammed Azad Majeed were filming with permission in a market area of the city on August 6 when security forces seized the journalists’ equipment and phones and drove them at high speed to the security headquarters, where they were questioned.

Karim said she was kept in a sweltering prison cell and forced to sign a document without knowing what it said.

VOA said that it was “extremely dismayed” by the detention and that Karim’s colleagues had sounded the alarm in Washington after seeing security disrupt the Facebook Live broadcast.

“We remain very concerned about this incident, particularly given that our team was reporting on scene, with appropriate authorization,” VOA’s public relations team said in a statement.

At least 20 journalists were detained or harassed August 5-6 in relation to protests organized by an opposition political party over the rising cost of living, rights groups said.

In an account of her arrest, shared with VOA, Karim said she felt pressured by security forces. She said she believed authorities gained access to her confiscated phone without her permission.

Colonel Yasin Samei, a spokesperson for Sulaymaniyah Security Directorate, did not comment directly on Karim’s case. He told VOA that those who believed they were disrespected or had equipment taken should file complaints with the authorities.

The following account from Karim has been translated and edited for length and clarity.

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We were filming a Facebook Live broadcast inside a market in Sulaymaniyah when security agents suddenly grabbed the cellphone I was using, arrested me and my cameraman, Mohammed Azad, and seized our equipment.

Under pressure, I was forced to hand over the code of my mobile and was told we could not inform VOA or our families of our arrest.

The security forces put us in a minibus with tinted windows. Inside were teenagers and young people, who had been arrested for protesting.

One asked, “What have we done? Why are you arresting us?” But a security agent just told them to be quiet.

We were transferred to the security agency headquarters like members of a criminal gang and thrown around as the vehicle sped through the city at a high rate of speed. I worried we would be in an accident.

Taken from vehicle

Once the vehicle stopped, we were dragged out and shuffled through a large number of security men. We were escorted through a yard where I saw a large number of teenagers — young people who had been at the protests, many of whom appeared to be under 18 — sitting on the ground with armed guards keeping watch.

According to one guard, a 12-year-old boy among the detainees cried in terror when he saw the armed men.

The way the security men looked at me, in a suggestive way, made me feel violated.

Several times I asked for my phone so I could contact my family. They refused.

We were taken in front of security guards, who started asking questions: our names and those of our family; where we lived and what we did. We were asked about political affiliations, even the model of our cars.

They asked stranger questions: Do we drink? Do we smoke hookah? What tribe do you belong to?

The tone was disrespectful and the questions prying. It scared me. I was thinking, “What if they think I am a ‘call girl’?” The questions about my car made me worry that I could be targeted later. “What if someone recognizes it?”

Forced to sign form

The guards then made me sign a form without giving me the chance to read it.

I was taken to the women’s section of the building, where a female employee was told to watch me. I asked her for my phone so I could send a text message, but she refused.

The room they kept me in looked like an animal’s cage, with bars on the ceiling. It had no air conditioning and the temperature was around 95 F.

Another woman was in the same room. We both called out that it was too hot and asked for the door to be opened. The employees refused and told us to stop screaming.

More women were in a neighboring room. I asked an employee who they were and she said their cases varied but most related to drugs.

After around two hours, someone called my name.

I was taken to the head office, where I saw my cameraman, Azad. He had not been treated much better, held in the yard with other men and teenagers, all of them forced to sit on the ground.

At the head office, the official treated us with respect and said he had an order for our release. We asked for our equipment, especially my phone, but he said it was with the IT section and would be returned later.

We left but returned an hour later to see if we could get the phone. Again, we were told no.

We returned a third time, at 10 p.m., nearly four hours after the phone had been seized. The same official was there. I expressed my wariness that they had a copy of my data. He denied anything was done to my phone, but I have my doubts.

Phone returned, with note

When the phone was returned, a piece of paper was taped to the back. On it, someone had written my name, VOA, and the phone’s access code. With that information, anyone could easily have accessed the phone and seen my apps and personal folders.

For four hours, my mobile was in the hands of security forces. I worry that its data may have been copied. The guards themselves said the IT department had taken the phone.

They had forced me to provide the code to open it, but they should have had a judge’s order to do that.

Our treatment violated universal human rights, as well as local and international law. It was done without respect to media and, as a woman, I felt disrespected.

We were not harmed physically, but from the moment of our arrest until we were freed was a time of mental injury and violation.

Dilshad Anwa contributed to this report, which originated in VOA’s Kurdish Service.