Religious leaders' quiet role crucial in defusing Kenya's recent protest violence
By Michael Marshall
Protesters gather during a nationwide strike to protest against proposed tax increases in downtown Nairobi on June 25. The Interreligious Council of Kenya -- a coalition of nine religious organizations representing Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, and Hindus -- played a quiet role in defusing violence related to the protests. Photo by Sadat Swaka/UPI | License Photo
June 28 (UPI) -- Religious leaders from the Interreligious Council of Kenya found themselves at the center of the recent anti-tax protests in Nairobi. They played a quiet role in defusing the violence.
Two unarmed protesters were shot and killed by Kenyan police during a week of nationwide peaceful protests prior to last week's violence.
The IRCK came out in support of the protesters on June 24 at a press conference widely covered by the Kenyan media. They demanded the withdrawal of the tax bill, termed its measures "punitive" for Kenyans already overburdened by rising living costs, and called for an investigation into what they said was police use of excessive force.
"This is not a push of the youth alone," said Catholic Bishop Willybard Lagho, chairman of the IRCK. "Over 85 percent of Kenyans stand in solidarity with the youth."
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This placed the ICRK in a difficult position. They were co-convenors of the Global Peace Leadership Conference Africa 2024, due to open the next day with Ruto as one of the speakers. Protesters already were circulating messages under #OccupyRadissonBlu, the conference hotel.
The ICRK and Global Peace Foundation, the main organizer of GPLC events worldwide, faced a grim prospect. The president would bring heavy security. There likely would be further violent clashes with protesters and more deaths.
To avoid such a tragedy, GPF leaders, including founder and chairman Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon, and ICRK leaders worked late into the night to craft a solution. (Moon also is chairman of UCI, a D.C. non-profit corporation that owns the parent company of United Press International.)
They decided to cancel the opening session and informed the State House, the official residence of the president in Kenya, of their concerns. The State House agreed, and word was put out through social media that the president would not be going to the Radisson Blu.
In place of the opening session, religious leaders held a prayer meeting. They agreed that any protesters who did show up would be invited in to join them in prayer for the peace and healing of Kenya.
Later that Wednesday, Ruto gave a second nationally televised address in which he completely reversed his stand of the previous evening. He said he had heard the voices of the protesters and conceded to them.
He did not sign the Finance Bill into law but sent it back to Parliament with the request that they strip all the clauses relating to higher taxes.
He declared himself ready to enter a dialogue over the concerns of the people. And the ICRK remains ready to help facilitate such a dialogue.
Massachusetts Uber, Lyft drivers win $32.50 wage in AG labor violations settlement
Uber and Lyft drivers have won a minimum pay rate of $32.50 per hour in Massachusetts. Uber will pay $148 million and Lyft will pay $27 million to settle labor law violation charges. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI |
June 28 (UPI) -- Uber and Lyft drivers have won a minimum pay rate of $32.50 per hour in an action brought by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell. It includes a $175 million payment from the app ride companies to settle labor law violation claims.
"For years, these companies have underpaid their drivers and denied them basic benefits. Today's agreement holds Uber and Lyft accountable, and provides their drivers, for the very first time in Massachusetts, guaranteed minimum pay, paid sick leave, occupational accident insurance, and health care stipends," Cambell said in a statement
Uber will pay $148 million and Lyft will pay $27 million, according to Cambell's office.
She said most of that amount will be distributed as restitution to current and former drivers "who were underpaid by the companies."
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An Uber statement said, "In resolving a longstanding lawsuit in Massachusetts, we have reached an agreement with Attorney General Andrea Campbell that gives drivers access to new protections and benefits, including the nation's first portable health insurance benefit fund, while preserving their ability to work independently."
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey commended Campbell for her successful labor rights violations lawsuit.
"Our lawsuit against Uber and Lyft was always about fairness for drivers," Healey said in a statement. "I congratulate Attorney General Campbell and her team for securing this settlement that delivers historic wages and benefits to right the wrongs of the past and ensure drivers are paid fairly going forward."
Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Chrissy Lynch echoed the praise.
"This settlement includes a comprehensive package of strong wages, benefits and protections for the drivers that these corporations have been exploiting for years. We deeply appreciate AG Campbell's hard work holding these corporations rightfully accountable to Massachusetts employment laws," Lynch said.
The settlement with Uber and Lyft provide a range of labor protections and benefits for workers who drive for the companies.
They include a health insurance benefit, guaranteed paid sick leave and requirements to provide drivers with more detailed pay information as well as protections against the companies discriminating against drivers on race. religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.
The settlement prevents the companies from retaliating against drivers who filed complaints with the Attorney General's office or have sought payment or benefits under the settlement.
Tenured professor faces charges in $16M National Institutes of Health fraud
The Department of Justice said Friday that Professor Hoau-Yan-Wang was indicted by a Maryland grand jury for an alleged $16 million fraud against the National Institutes of Health. According to the indictment the scheme involved falsifying data for grant applications related to a potential Alzheimer's treatment. Photo by St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office/Wikimedia Commons
June 28 (UPI) -- The Department of Justice said Friday that a Maryland grand jury indictment against Professor Hoau-Yan Wang alleges he defrauded the U.S. National Institutes of Health of approximately $16 million.
A Justice Department statement said Wang was a tenured professor at a public university and also served as a aid adviser and consultant for a publicly traded Texas biopharmaceutical company.
"From approximately May 2015 through approximately April 2023, Wang allegedly engaged in a scheme to fabricate and falsify scientific data in grant applications made to the NIH on behalf of himself and the biopharmaceutical company," the DOJ said in a statement.
According to the DOJ fraudulent grant applications using the false data sought funding from the NIH.
The funding requests purported to be for "a potential treatment and diagnostic test for Alzheimer's disease and resulted in the award of approximately $16 million in grants from approximately 2017 to 2021, part of which funded Wang's laboratory work and salary. "
Wang faces one count of major fraud against the United States, two counts of wire fraud and one count of false statements. The penalties if convicted are 10 years for the major fraud, 20 years per count for wire fraud and five years for making false statements.
"Wang's alleged scientific data falsification in the NIH grant applications related to how the proposed drug and diagnostic test were intended to work and the improvement of certain indicators associated with Alzheimer's disease after treatment with the proposed drug," the DOJ said.
More than 100 dolphins stranded in shallow water off Cape Cod, Mass.
More than 100 Atlantic white-sided dolphins are stranded in shallow water off Cape Cod, Mass., in what one non-profit animal protection group called the “largest single mass stranding event in our response history.” Photo courtesy of the International Fund for Animal Welfare
June 29 (UPI) -- More than 100 Atlantic white-sided dolphins are stranded in shallow water off Cape Cod, Mass., in what one nonprofit animal protection group called the "largest single mass stranding event in our response history."
At least 10 of the mammals had died by the time rescue efforts began Friday in the town of Wellfleet, Mass.
Others were stranded in extremely shallow water or were entirely exposed in the mud in an area known as the Great Island at the Herring River.
"Our valiant marine mammal rescue team is in the midst of what may be the largest single mass stranding event in our response history. 125 Atlantic white-sided dolphins stranded this morning in Wellfleet in an area called the Herring River Gut - the epicenter of mass strandings," the nonprofit International Fund for Animal Welfare said in a statement.
"At least to herd the dolphins back out to deeper waters."
The group was also using the rising tide to its advantage late Friday as it worked to rescue the animals, which can grow up to 9.2 feet in length and weigh up to 510 pounds.
The large size was making the situation challenging for rescuers.
Estimates put the global population of the Atlantic white-sided dolphins at around 100,000. The species is normally found in warmer parts of the North Atlantic Ocean, according to the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service.
The name is attributed to a distinctive white stripe on the dolphins' sides.
In the coastal United States, the dolphins typically roam North Carolina to Maine.
The animals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Germany's far-right AfD party re-elects two amid violent protests
Local police anticipate up to 80,000 protesters, including about 1,000 violent far-left protesters, to descend on the weekend's AfD party conference in Essen, Germany. Photo by Fabian Strauch/EPA-EFE
June 29 (UPI) -- Germany's Alternative for Deutschland party re-elected Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla to another two-year team as the party's joint leaders amid violent protests Saturday in Essen.
Chrupalla received 82.72% of supporting votes from 600 AfD party delegates and Weidel 79.77% during the AfD conference that got underway Saturday.
Their successful bids for reelection as AfD party leaders occurred as thousands of protesters took to the streets of Essen Saturday morning.
The group Widersetzen allegedly is organizing mass protests against the AfD, which many describe as a "far-right" political party.
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Widersetzen protest organizers want its members and supporters to disrupt the AfD conference to "prevent the spread of fascism."
About 1,000 German police are deployed in Essen for the two-day political conference.
Police officials expect up to 80,000 protesters to arrive in Essen on Saturday, including about 1,000 far-left extremists prone to violence, German media have reported.
The Bild newspaper reported police made several arrests and rescued an AfD member whom aggressive protesters had cornered in a local bakery.
Hooded violent protesters attacked police and security forces outside the event, which led to several arrests, the North Rhine-Westphalia regional police posted on X.
Violent protesters seriously injured two police officers, according to the NRW.
The protests follow the AfD's recent European Union election results earlier this month that gave the party Germany's second-highest amount of votes.
Only the Christian Democratic Union, which is considered a center-right political party, has more votes.
The AfD's election success occurred despite AfD member Maximilian Krah in May saying not all former Nazi SS members were criminals.
HEZBOLLAH IS IN LEBANON
Israel hits Hezbollah targets in preparation for escalated conflictLEBANON HAS THE RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF
By Ehren Wynder
JUNE 29, 2024
Hezbollah has carried out near daily airstrikes against northern Israeli settlements near the border with Lebanon since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. File Photo by IDF/ UPI | License Photo
June 29 (UPI) -- Israel on Saturday struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in response to the militant group's recent airstrike along the Israeli-Lebanese border.
The strike occurred in the morning when Hezbollah fired two anti-tank guided missiles from southern Lebanon toward Kibbutz Misgav Am. No injuries were reported.
The group later confirmed responsibility for the strike, saying it was targeting Israeli spy equipment in Misgav Am in support of the Palestinian people. Israeli forces responded with artillery strikes toward the source of the missile launch.
Israeli fighter jets on Saturday also struck two buildings in Houla in southern Lebanon where Hezbollah operatives had gathered, according to the IDF.
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Lebanon'sPrime Minister Najib Mikati toured southern Lebanon amid the barrage, saying the clash between Israel and Hezbollah was "psychological warfare" on his country but that he was working to reach peace on the border.
The Lebanese military is active in the south of the country but has no control over the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Friday said his country was "not looking for war" with Hezbollah but that it was prepared for an escalated conflict.
Hezbollah has been launching strikes on northern border communities almost daily since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel, which sparked the war in Gaza.
The United States trying to persuade both sides to avoid an all-out war, the likelihood of which has been higher in recent weeks, according to U.S. intelligence officials.
The task of deescalation would be easier without failing negotiations between Israel and Hamas to reach a cease-fire in the nearly nine-month-long Gaza war.
Iran's mission to the United Nations on X Friday threatened an "obliterating war will ensue" if Israel were to wage a full-on war against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
"All options, including the full involvement of all resistance fronts, are on the table," the post read.
Israel is detaining pregnant Palestinian women, commission says
By Adam Schrader
JUNE 30, 2024 /
An Israel Prison Service van leaves the Damon Prison where it holds Palestinian prisoners, File Photo by Nimrod Glikman/EPA
June 30 (UPI) -- At least two women that have been detained by Israel are pregnant as conditions, including sexual harassment by their Israeli guards, continue to worsen for Palestinian prisoners.
"The policy of abuse and punishments against female detainees is not needed, but it increased in its intensity since October 7, 2023," the Palestinian Commission for the Affairs of Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners said in a statement on Telegram on Sunday.
The agency named the two pregnant women detained as Jihad Nakhlah and Aysha Ghidan. There are currently 78 women prisoners at the Damon prison.
"They have been completely isolated from the outside world, and deprived of their simplest rights such as clothes and medical care in spite of the seriousness of health conditions for those who have chronic diseases," the agency said.
"Furthermore, they are subjected to physical abuse and suppression since the beginning of their arrest, in addition to sexual harassment during strip search and other threats."
An attorney for the agency visited the prison and confirmed that the Israel Prison Service "intends to crack down on female detainees" as summer approaches. Israeli guards allegedly confiscate fans as temperatures rise.
The news comes weeks after it was revealed that nearly 9,300 Palestinian prisoners have been arrested and are currently held in Israeli prisons and detention centers, according to the Palestine Prisoner's Society. Around 250 prisoners are children.
More than 3,400 Palestinians are currently under "administrative detention," which allows Israeli officials to hold them without charge or trial. The human rights group Amnesty International has said the practice has "dramatically increased" since the war. Palestinians and their supporters often equate this practice to kidnapping.
Amnesty International has documented cases of Israeli soldiers torturing Palestinian detainees, including "severe beatings" and "humiliation." The human rights group said that such torture had been occurring "for decades" before Hamas' attack Oct. 7.
And, Israeli forces have continued to detain dozens of journalists and healthcare workers in Gaza.
Canadian Federal election candidate becomes the first to ever receive zero votesHe said he didn't even vote for himself
Félix-Antoine Hamel, one of 84 candidates to run in a Toronto byelection, became the first candidate in the country's history to win zero votes in a contested federal election. File Photo by Molly Riley/UPI | License Photo
June 28 (UPI) -- A Canadian man has become the first candidate in the nation's history to receive zero votes in a contested federal election.
Félix-Antoine Hamel was one of 84 candidates to run in a Toronto byelection after he and 76 others were approached by election reform group Longest Ballot Committee, which packed the race with candidates to successfully create the longest ballot in Canadian history.
Hamel was the only candidate in the race to receive zero votes. He said he didn't even vote for himself because he is not a Toronto resident, and therefore not eligible to cast a ballot.
"When I saw the result, I was like: 'Well, I am the true unity candidate. Everyone agrees not to vote for me,'" Hamel told CBC News.
The Library of Parliament database confirmed Hamel was the first candidate in the country's history to fail to receive a single vote in a contested election. Other candidates have run in uncontested races and won without a single vote.
Six other candidates in Hamel's race received only two votes each.
Hamel said he wasn't exactly surprised by his showing in the election, but he was amused to learn of his unusual new distinction.
"I'm one of the last people that would be expected to make Canadian history in any way," he said.
Childhood exposure to air pollution may increase adult risk of bronchitis
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay NewsJUNE 28, 2024
Exposure to air pollution as a child increases an adult's risk of bronchitis, a new study warns. Photo by Adobe Stock/HealthDay News
Exposure to air pollution as a child increases an adult's risk of bronchitis, a new study warns.
Young adults with bronchitis symptoms tended to have been exposed during childhood to two types of air pollutants, researchers found:
Particle pollution from dust, pollen, wildfire ash, industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust.
Nitrogen dioxide from gasoline engines.
Bronchitis occurs when the large airways of the lungs become inflamed, causing severe coughing spells that bring up mucus or phlegm. Wheezing, chest pain and shortness of breath are other symptoms.
"Our results suggest that childhood air pollution exposure has more subtle effects on our respiratory system that still impact us in adulthood," said researcher Dr. Erika Garcia, an assistant professor of population and public health sciences at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine.
"Reducing air pollution would have benefits not only for current asthma in children but also for their respiratory health as they grow into adulthood," Garcia added in a university news release.
Air pollution has been consistently associated with lung ailments among children, and childhood lung problems are consistently associated with lung issues as adults, researchers said in background notes.
However, few studies have explored the effect of childhood air pollution exposure on adult lung health, whether or not kids suffered lung problems, researchers said.
Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, researchers said. Their respiratory and immune systems are still developing, and they breathe in more air relative to their body mass than adults.
For the study, researchers analyzed data on more than 1,300 young adults who had participated in a children's health study.
A quarter of the participants had experienced bronchitis symptoms within the past 12 months, researchers found.
Researchers tracked where the participants lived as they grew, and matched addresses to local air quality measurements taken by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The adult risk of bronchitis was significantly associated with air pollution exposure in childhood, even after researchers adjusted for any asthma or bronchitis the participants had as children, results show.
However, the effect of childhood air pollution on adult bronchitis symptoms was even stronger among those who'd been diagnosed with asthma as kids.
This shows that some children may be more sensitive to the effects of air pollution, Garcia said.
"We may want to be especially careful to protect them from exposure, so we can improve their outcomes later in life," Garcia said.
Researchers noted that participants with adult bronchitis symptoms were affected by nitrogen dioxide as kids even though average childhood exposure fell far below annual EPA standards -- just a bit over half the limit set in 1971 that still stands today.
The findings were published Friday in the American Journal of Respiratory and Clinical Care Medicine.
"This study highlights the importance of lowering air pollution, and especially exposure during the critical period of childhood," Garcia said. "Because there's only so much that we can do as individuals to control our exposure, the need to protect children from the adverse effects of air pollution is better addressed at the policy level."
More information
UNICEF has more on air pollution and children.
Copyright © 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Banksy behind inflatable 'crowdsurfing' migrant raft at Glastonbury
By Mark Moran
Festival goers enjoy watching British singer Liam Gallagher perform on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury Music Festival in Somerset on Saturday, June 29, 2019. The artist Banksy was behind a stunt that involved an inflatable boat that surfed the crowd meant to draw attention to immigration. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
June 30 (UPI) -- The street artist known as Banksy was behind a stunt during another singer's set at the Glastonbury music festival in England.
During Idles' set, participants lofted an inflatable life raft with dummy migrants atop the crowd and passed it forward, giving the appearance of the boat traveling along the water.
The raft was launched and crowdsurfed during the song Danny Nedelko with lyrics about an immigrant. It was a reference to the small boats carrying migrants across the English Channel, which have become a political lightning rod this year.
Immigration has been at the forefront of the snap elections called by England's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. His immigration policy proposals have been the target of criticism and a focus of the Glastonbury festival.
People entering Terminal 1, an area dedicated to the topic of immigration, must answer a question from the UK government's citizenship test for would-be migrants.
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