Trump signals support for recreational marijuana in Florida
Donald Trump on Saturday signaled his backing for a ballot initiative that would legalize recreational marijuana use in Florida, where he resides.
“Whether people like it or not,” the Republican presidential candidate said on his Truth Social platform, “this will happen.”
The decriminalization of marijuana is widely supported across the country. Three-quarters of Americans live in states where marijuana is legal for recreational and medical use, or medical use only.
Polls show support is particularly strong among younger people, a demographic that has shifted significantly toward Trump’s rival Kamala Harris since she became the Democratic candidate for president.
The initiative in Florida, to be on the ballot in November when Americans are voting for their next president, is opposed by Governor Ron DeSantis and some other state Republicans.
“The proposed amendment would turn Florida into San Francisco or Chicago,” DeSantis said earlier this summer, noting that his state already allows medicinal marijuana. “We got to keep our streets clean.”
Trump described his support as a matter of fairness across state borders, and of the disproportional impact arrest can have on people’s lives.
“Someone should not be a criminal in Florida, when this is legal in so many other States,” Trump said in his post.
“We do not need to ruin lives & waste Taxpayer Dollars arresting adults with personal amounts of it on them.”
At the same time, he urged the adoption of laws against public cannabis use “so we do not smell marijuana everywhere we go, like we do in many of the Democrat run Cities.”
During his victorious 2016 presidential campaign, Trump adopted a position of tolerance on the subject, repeatedly saying he would leave the matter to local authorities.
Once in the White House, he said little about it but lent support to some of the hard-line law-and-order positions of his first attorney general, Jeff Sessions.
The previous US administration, under Democratic president Barack Obama, had followed a federal policy of tolerance.
But in 2018 Sessions rescinded that policy, giving local prosecutors greater latitude to crack down on pot growth, sales and possession. Most of them, however, did not do so.
In May, the US Justice Department announced plans to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug.
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Brazil block on X comes into effect after judge’s order
A block on Elon Musk’s X social network in Brazil started to take effect early Saturday after a Supreme Court judge ordered its suspension, according to AFP.
Brazilian Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes on Friday ordered the suspension of the platform following a months-long standoff with the tech billionaire over disinformation in South America’s largest nation.
Moraes handed down the ruling after Musk failed to comply with an order to name a new legal representative for the company.
Early Saturday access to X, formerly known as Twitter, was no longer possible for some users in the South American country, who were presented with a message asking them to reload the browser without being able to log in successfully.
Musk, who also owns Tesla and SpaceX, reacted with fury to the judge’s order, branding Moraes an “evil dictator cosplaying as a judge” and accusing him of “trying to destroy democracy in Brazil.”
“Free speech is the bedrock of democracy and an unelected pseudo-judge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes,” the billionaire, who has become increasingly aligned with right-wing politics, wrote on X.
The two have been locked in an ongoing, high-profile feud for months as Moraes leads a battle against disinformation in Brazil.
Musk has previously declared himself a “free speech absolutist,” but since he took over the platform formerly known as Twitter in 2022 he has been accused of turning it into a megaphone for right-wing conspiracy theories.
He is a vocal supporter of former US president Donald Trump’s bid to regain the White House.
Moraes ordered the “immediate, complete and comprehensive suspension of the operation of” X in the country, telling the national communications agency to take “all necessary measures” to implement the order within 24 hours.
He threatened a fine of 50,000 reais ($8,900) to anyone who used “technological subterfuges” to get around the block, such as a VPN.
The judge also demanded Google, Apple and internet providers “introduce technological obstacles capable of preventing the use of the X application” and access to the website — though he later walked back that order.
The social media platform has more than 22 million users in Brazil.
Musk shut X’s business operations in Brazil earlier this month, claiming Moraes had threatened the company’s previous legal representative with arrest to force compliance with “censorship orders.”
On Wednesday, Moraes told Musk he had 24 hours to find a new representative or he would face suspension.
Shortly after the deadline passed, X said in a statement that it expected Moraes to shut it down “simply because we would not comply with his illegal orders to censor his political opponents.”
– ‘Who does Musk think he is?’-
The standoff with Musk began when Moraes ordered the suspension of several X accounts belonging to supporters of Brazil’s former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, who tried to discredit the voting system in the 2022 election, which he lost.
Brazilian authorities are investigating whether Bolsonaro plotted a coup attempt to prevent current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from assuming office in January 2023.
Online users blocked by Moraes include figures such as far-right ex-congressman Daniel Silveira, who was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2022 on charges of leading a movement to overthrow the Supreme Court.
In April, Moraes ordered an investigation of Musk, accusing him of reactivating some of the banned accounts.
On Thursday, Musk’s satellite internet operator Starlink said it had received an order from Moraes that froze its accounts and prevented it from conducting financial transactions in Brazil.
Starlink alleged that the order “is based on an unfounded determination that Starlink should be responsible for the fines levied — unconstitutionally — against X.”
The company said on X that it intended “to address the matter legally.”
Musk is also the subject of a separate judicial investigation into an alleged scheme where public money was used to orchestrate disinformation campaigns in favor of Bolsonaro and those close to him.
“Any citizen from anywhere in the world who has investments in Brazil is subject to the Brazilian Constitution and laws,” Lula told a local radio station on Friday.
“Who does (Musk) think he is?”
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Power cut hits large parts of Kenya
A power cut plunged large parts of Kenya including the capital Nairobi into darkness on Friday, the East African economic powerhouse’s main electricity supplier said.
All regions served by the national network lost power apart from North Rift and parts of the Western Region, Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) said in a statement.
“We regret any inconvenience caused and urge for patience from our customers as we work towards restoring normalcy at the earliest opportunity,” it added.
Frustrated Kenyans were swift to vent their anger on social media after the power cut hit at around 9:30 pm (1830 GMT).
“Now KPLC gotta be standing for Kenya poor lighting Company,” read one sarcastic post on X, formerly Twitter.
Flights at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, a major regional passenger and freight hub, was unaffected as it switched to back-up power systems and generators, the Kenya Airports Authority said on X.
Local blackouts are fairly common in Kenya but the country has recently suffered large-scale power cuts.
In August last year, a giant power cut affected almost the entire country for close to 24 hours, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
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Top 10 Best Beaches in the World in 2024
Beaches have long been the go-to spots for relaxation, adventure, and a deep connection with nature. From powdery white sands and crystal-clear waters to breathtaking sunsets, the world is dotted with some truly spectacular beaches. Here’s a guide to the top 10 best beaches in the world, each unique in its charm, offering a little slice of paradise.
1. Whitehaven Beach, Australia
Why It’s the Best: Located on Whitsunday Island, Whitehaven Beach is renowned for its 7-kilometer stretch of pure white silica sand, which doesn’t retain heat. This feature makes it perfect for barefoot strolls even on the hottest days. Moreover, the turquoise waters are incredibly clear, making it an ideal spot for swimming and snorkeling.
What’s Available: Visitors can explore the Hill Inlet, a stunning cove where the tides shift the sand and water to create a beautiful fusion of colors. Additionally, there are plenty of options for sailing and exploring the Great Barrier Reef nearby.
2. Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos
Why It’s the Best: Grace Bay in Providenciales boasts powdery white sand and calm, shallow waters with varying shades of blue and green. This beach is the epitome of tranquility and has consistently been voted as one of the best in the world.
What’s Available: Luxury resorts and spas line the beach, offering upscale amenities. Furthermore, for those interested in water activities, there are plenty of options, including snorkeling, diving, paddle boarding, and boating, all with stunning views of vibrant coral reefs.
3. Anse Source d’Argent, Seychelles
Why It’s the Best: Located on La Digue Island, Anse Source d’Argent is famous for its pink sand and granite boulders, which create a stunning contrast against the blue sea. The shallow, warm waters make it a perfect beach for wading and snorkeling.
What’s Available: This beach is part of L’Union Estate, where visitors can explore coconut plantations, a vanilla farm, and old colonial houses. Additionally, there are local food shacks offering Creole cuisine right on the beach.
4. Navagio Beach, Greece
Why It’s the Best: Also known as Shipwreck Beach, Navagio Beach on Zakynthos Island is an iconic spot, thanks to the rusting shipwreck that rests on its sands. Surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and accessible only by boat, it offers a secluded and picturesque retreat.
What’s Available: The crystal-clear waters are perfect for swimming, and the nearby cliffs provide opportunities for base jumping. Moreover, adventurers can take boat tours to explore the stunning blue caves and secluded coves around the island.
5. Maui’s Kaanapali Beach, Hawaii
Why It’s the Best: Kaanapali Beach is a classic Hawaiian beach that stretches for three miles, offering golden sand, swaying palm trees, and the clear blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. It’s a perfect spot for families and water sports enthusiasts.
What’s Available: Kaanapali is home to several luxury resorts and golf courses. It’s also famous for its daily cliff diving ceremony at Puu Kekaa, where divers leap off Black Rock into the ocean. Furthermore, snorkeling, surfing, and whale-watching tours are popular activities.
6. Matira Beach, Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Why It’s the Best: Bora Bora’s Matira Beach is a stunning stretch of white sand that gently slopes into the lagoon. The water is warm, shallow, and incredibly clear, making it ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
What’s Available: The beach is lined with small restaurants and snack bars. In addition, there are opportunities for kayaking, jet skiing, and glass-bottom boat tours, allowing visitors to see the vibrant marine life of the lagoon.
7. Baia do Sancho, Brazil
Why It’s the Best: Located on the island of Fernando de Noronha, Baia do Sancho is often considered Brazil’s best beach. It’s known for its crystal-clear emerald water, fine sand, and vibrant marine life.
What’s Available: Accessed by boat or a cliffside staircase, this beach is perfect for snorkeling and diving, with frequent sightings of turtles, dolphins, and colorful fish. It’s also a popular spot for bird watching, with seabirds nesting on the cliffs.
8. Pink Sands Beach, Bahamas
Why It’s the Best: As the name suggests, this beach on Harbour Island is famous for its blush pink sand, which comes from the crushed shells of microscopic coral insects. The contrast of the pink sand with the turquoise water creates a surreal landscape.
What’s Available: Pink Sands Beach offers a range of luxury resorts and boutique hotels. It’s an excellent spot for horseback riding, swimming, and snorkeling. Additionally, the island offers charming pastel-colored cottages and local shops to explore.
9. Tulum Beach, Mexico
Why It’s the Best: Tulum Beach combines stunning natural beauty with ancient Mayan history. The beach is lined with palm trees, white sand, and crystal-clear water, with the Tulum Ruins perched dramatically on the cliffs above.
What’s Available: Visitors can explore the Tulum Ruins, swim in the cenotes, and snorkel in the coral reefs. Moreover, the area is also known for eco-friendly resorts, yoga retreats, and a vibrant dining scene with beachfront restaurants serving fresh seafood.
10. Anse Lazio, Seychelles
Why It’s the Best: Anse Lazio on Praslin Island is often ranked among the most beautiful beaches in the world. It features soft white sand, clear blue waters, and is framed by granite boulders and lush greenery.
What’s Available: The calm, warm waters make it perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Visitors can enjoy fresh seafood at local restaurants, hike nearby trails, or simply relax under the shade of palm trees.
Conclusion: Discover the Top 10 Best Beaches in the World
Each of these top 10 best beaches in the world offers a unique experience, whether you’re looking for adventure, relaxation, or a taste of luxury. From the serene waters of Whitehaven Beach to the dramatic cliffs of Navagio Beach, these destinations are must-visit spots for beach lovers around the globe. Whether you’re planning a getaway or simply dreaming of one, these top 10 best beaches in the world promise to deliver a slice of paradise. Indeed, the top 10 best beaches in the world are perfect spots to create unforgettable memories. So, why wait? Dive into the beauty of the top 10 best beaches in the world.
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Zelensky dismisses Ukraine air force commander after F-16 crash
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday dismissed the country’s air force chief, a day after Kyiv said a US-made F-16 fighter jet had crashed in combat, killing the pilot.
In a video message Zelensky said he had “decided to replace the commander of the air force” to strengthen Ukraine’s military leadership.
His office earlier published a presidential decree to officially remove Mykola Oleshchuk from the post.
The crash of the F-16 was a high-profile setback for Kyiv, which had lobbied the West to send the advanced fighter jet for months.
It was the first reported loss, just weeks after Ukraine first started taking delivery of the supersonic aircraft.
The military had said the plane and pilot crashed during a combat mission earlier this week after having shot down incoming Russian missiles.
Lawmaker Mariana Bezugla, who sits on a parliamentary defence, security and intelligence committee, claimed the F-16 was shot down by Ukraine’s own air defence systems in a case of friendly fire.
In response to those allegations Oleshchuk earlier on Friday accused her of trying to discredit Ukraine’s military leaders, and said a full investigation into the incident was underway.
Zelensky did not provide further details on why he had decided to replace his air force commander, saying only that his command team “needed to get stronger”.
Lieutenant General Anatolii Kryvonozhko, who leads the air force’s operations in the central part of Ukraine, would temporarily assume the role of overall commander, the air force said.
It is not the first time Zelensky has removed a senior military leader.
Earlier this year he removed popular commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny.
He was replaced with Oleksandr Syrsky, who masterminded leading Ukraine’s shock counter-attack into Russia’s western Kursk region.
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US court upholds decision to reinstate conviction of ‘Serial’ podcast subject
The top court in the US state of Maryland on Friday upheld a ruling by a lower court reinstating the conviction of the man at the center of the hit podcast “Serial, who had served more than 20 years in prison for his ex-girlfriend’s murder.
Adnan Syed, 43, whose case received worldwide attention through the podcast, had been serving a life sentence for the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee, but was released in 2022 after Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn vacated his conviction.
A Maryland appeals court reinstated his conviction in March of last year, however, saying that the rights of Lee’s brother, Young Lee, who lives in California, had been violated because he had not been given adequate time to attend that hearing in person. The brother has nothing to do with the case.
The Maryland Supreme Court upheld that decision on Friday and ordered the circuit court to conduct a new hearing on the motion vacating Syed’s conviction.
“In an effort to remedy what they perceived to be an injustice to Mr. Syed, the prosecutor and the circuit court worked an injustice against Mr. Lee by failing to treat him with dignity, respect, and sensitivity,” the Supreme Court said.
It said the “remedy is to reinstate Mr. Syed’s convictions and to remand the case to the circuit court for further proceedings.”
Syed has been free since his September 2022 release from prison and the Maryland Supreme Court said he did not have to return to jail while the legal proceedings move forward.
Lee’s body was found buried in February 1999 in a shallow grave in the woods of Baltimore, Maryland. The 18-year-old had been strangled.
Syed steadfastly maintained his innocence and prosecutors asked Judge Phinn to vacate his conviction, citing the discovery of new information regarding two alternative suspects.
Syed’s case earned worldwide attention when it was taken up by “Serial,” a weekly podcast that saw a US journalist revisit his conviction and cast doubt on his guilt.
His case has also been the subject of a four-part documentary on the HBO channel called “The Case Against Adnan Syed.”
The “Serial” podcast — a mix of investigative journalism, first-person narrative and dramatic storytelling — focused its first season on Syed’s story in 12 nail-biting episodes.
Both Syed and Lee were high school honor students and children from immigrant families — he Pakistani, she South Korean — who had concealed their relationship from their conservative parents.
Prosecutors claimed during his trial that Syed was a “scorned lover” who felt humiliated after Lee broke up with him.
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Chinese property developer Vanke posts losses of $1.4 billion
Chinese housing developer Vanke announced significant first-half losses on Friday, as local real estate firms contend with an industry-wide crisis compounded by declining home sales in a sluggish economy.
Vanke was the second-largest developer in China last year in terms of sales, according to specialist firm CRIC.
The company reported net losses of 9.9 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) in the first half of the year ending June 30, according to a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange on Friday.
The amount was higher than estimates made by the group last month, which predicted a net loss of between 7 and 9 billion yuan.
“It will take time for the recovery of residents’ confidence in purchasing houses,” the company said in the filing.
Vanke recorded a net profit of 9.9 billion yuan during the same period in 2023 despite facing economic headwinds.
The company is part-owned by the city government of Shenzhen in southern China — once seen as a guarantee of its solidity.
China’s real estate market is grappling with unprecedented challenges, with some developers on the verge of bankruptcy and lower property prices deterring consumers from making investments against a backdrop of a slowing economy.
Rating agency Moody’s once again downgraded Vanke’s credit rating by one notch this month to B1, signifying it was “highly speculative”.
The setbacks make Vanke the latest Chinese developer to be caught up in a mounting crisis within the real estate sector, following Evergrande and Country Garden.
The industry, which experienced two decades of meteoric growth as living standards rose across China, had long accounted for more than a quarter of the country’s GDP.
In a bid to revive activity, authorities have introduced various incentive measures and made announcements of state support.
But those efforts have so far had little impact on the ailing sector.
Major cities in China saw another drop in real estate prices in July, indicating demand is still weak.
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Singaporean jailed for planting ‘death penalty’ weed in wife’s car
A Singaporean man has been sentenced to nearly four years behind bars after attempting to frame his estranged wife by placing cannabis in her car, knowing she could get the death penalty.
Tan Xianglong, 37, was sentenced at a district court on Thursday to three years and 10 months in jail, court documents showed.
The couple had been estranged for less than two years, after having sought a divorce but failing to get one immediately because of the short duration of their union, the documents said.
Tan had been angry at his wife because he thought she did not contribute enough financially to the marriage.
He consulted lawyers and “came away with the idea that a divorce could happen if one of the parties had a criminal record”, the documents said.
He initially hired a private investigator to gather evidence she was committing adultery, but no proof was found.
This prompted Tan to hatch the scheme to frame his estranged wife by planting weed in her car — describing it to his girlfriend as a “perfect plan”.
Tan bought the drugs on the black market and weighed them at home, finding they came in at 510 grams (18 ounces) — more than the 500-gram threshold that merits the death penalty in Singapore.
“From his research online, he knew that the involved party (his wife) would face the death penalty if convicted of trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis,” the court documents said.
“He nonetheless decided to proceed with his plan as he was very angry with the involved party.”
A laboratory analysis of the drugs, however, showed they only contained 216.17 grams of pure cannabis.
Tan’s wife was arrested after police discovered the drugs in her car, but they found no other incriminating evidence against her.
Police then turned their investigation to Tan, who was subsequently arrested.
The United Nations and rights groups say capital punishment has no proven deterrent effect, and have called for it to be discontinued.
Singaporean officials, however, contend it has helped make the country one of Asia’s safest.
The city-state carries out the death penalty by hanging.
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Mpox vaccines expected to arrive in DR Congo within days: WHO chief
A first delivery of mpox vaccines is expected to arrive in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the coming days, the World Health Organization said Friday.
The WHO declared an international emergency over mpox on August 14, concerned by the surge in cases of the new Clade 1b strain in the DR Congo that spread to nearby countries.
After returning from the DRC on Friday, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference: “We hope to have the first delivery in the next few days, and then it will build up.”
More than 18,000 suspected cases of mpox have been reported in the DRC so far this year, with 629 deaths, said Tedros.
The figure included more than 5,000 cases and 31 deaths in the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu, where Clade 1b has been spreading.
“The number of reported cases of Clade 1b has been rising rapidly for several weeks. Fortunately, relatively few deaths have been reported in recent weeks,” said Tedros.
In addition, 258 cases of Clade 1b have been confirmed in neighbouring Burundi; four in Rwanda, four in Uganda, two in Kenya and one each in Sweden and Thailand, he added.
In the DRC, Tedros met with President Felix Tshisekedi to discuss the outbreaks, the importance of clear communication on the virus and strong engagement with local communities.
“We believe we can stop these outbreaks in the next six months,” the UN health agency’s director-general said.
WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL) is designed to expedite the availability of unlicensed medical products, such as vaccines, for use in a public health emergency.
The two main procurers of vaccines for low-income countries — the Gavi vaccine alliance and the UN children’s agency UNICEF — require EUL status to buy vaccines for use in countries that have not issued their own national regulatory approval.
Two mpox vaccines — MVA-BN, produced by Danish drugmaker Bavarian Nordic, and Japan’s LC16 — have been put forward for EUL status.
Tedros said the information the WHO had hitherto on the two vaccines was partial, and the UN health agency received the additional information it needed on August 23.
The process for granting EUL could take another two weeks, but in the meantime, Tedros has given Gavi and UNICEF the authority to begin procuring vaccines pending approval.
“We don’t need to wait until two weeks before we proceed with procurements,” he explained.
However, “the safety and efficacy of vaccines are our highest priority. We will not take shortcuts,” he added.
Tim Nguyen from the WHO health emergency programme said the European Union had procured 175,000 doses of MVA-BN, while Bavarian Nordic was donating 40,000 doses.
All in all, there are “about 230,000 doses that we understand are imminently available to be dispatched to affected regions”, he said.
There were further pledges of donations, but Nguyen said they needed to materialise into donations.
Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention director, said vaccines were only one of several available tools to crack down on the virus.
“Right now, even when vaccines aren’t available — and it’s going to take some time for the vaccines to reach those at risk — the right messages can be reaching the right at-risk populations,” she said.
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Nearly 6,200 murders in South Africa over three months
Nearly 6,200 people were murdered in South Africa between April and June, police figures showed Friday, as tackling crime poses a key issue for the new coalition government.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said that 6,198 people were murdered during the three months, a 0.5-percent decrease over the same period a year earlier.
“These numbers tell a sobering story, reflecting the severity of the challenges we face,” he told a Cape Town press conference.
South Africa has one of the highest peacetime per capita homicide rates in the world.
Rapes, in a country notorious for sex attacks against women and children, increased by 0.6 percent, compared to the same three-month period last year.
The country recorded a total of 9,309 rapes between April and June.
Police also said there were 44,735 drug-related crimes detected as a result of police action during the period.
“We have carried out significant operations targeting drug syndicates, leading to the seizure of substantial quantities of illegal narcotics,” the minister said.
Last month, three Mexicans and two South Africans were arrested when elite police units raided a multi-million-dollar crystal meth lab hidden in a remote farm north of Johannesburg.
In a separate incident, a Russian man was arrested along with a South African after police seized 14 bags filled with bricks of cocaine worth 252 million rand (almost $14 million).
Crime is a key issue facing President Cyril Ramaphosa’s new coalition government after his African National Congress was forced into an uneasy coalition with the centrist Democratic Alliance and other smaller parties following May elections.
“These numbers represent more than just figures on a page; they reflect the lived realities of our citizens — their fears, their losses and their hopes for a safer tomorrow,” Mchunu said.
“We will confront these challenges head-on and work tirelessly to ensure that South Africa is a place where all can feel safe and secure once again,” he vowed.
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