npr--2020-07-31--Appeals Court Tosses Out Death Sentence For Boston Marathon Bomber

A death penalty sentence against confessed Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was thrown out Friday by a federal appeals court in Boston .
Citing errors by a lower court , a three-judge panel from the 1st U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals sent the widely publicized case back to the federal District Court that had convicted Tsarnaev in 2015 and ordered six death sentences for him as well as 11 concurrent life sentences .
In the ruling , that court was ordered to impanel a new jury and hold a sentencing retrial for the death penalty convictions .
`` A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that even the very worst among us deserves to be fairly tried and lawfully punished , '' Judge O. Rogeriee Thompson wrote in the 224-page opinion , noting the District Court judge had failed to vet the trial 's jurors adequately for bias .
Attorneys for Tsarnaev have acknowledged that he and his older brother Tamerlan , who was killed during the manhunt that followed the 2013 bombing , detonated two homemade pressure cooker bombs that killed three people and wounded at least 260 others near the finish line of the annual foot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lives I have taken , for the suffering that I have caused you , for the damage I have done , irreparable damage , '' Tsarnaev told the courtroom on the day he was sentenced , adding `` in case there is any doubt , I am guilty of this attack , along with my brother . ''
Tsarnaev , who is now 27 , is being held at the high-security supermax federal prison near Florence , Colo .
While the appellate court vacated the death sentences against the younger of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he would never again be a free man .
`` Dzhokhar will remain confined to prison for the rest of his life , '' Thompson wrote , `` with the only question remaining being whether the government will end his life by executing him . ''
The higher court noted that the judge who presided over Tsarnaev 's trial had rejected the defense team 's request for a more distant trial venue where prospective jurors might be less likely to be prejudiced against the Chechen immigrant .
That judge did so , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jurors would be adequately screened .
But the three-judge panel ruled that the trial judge had failed to impanel an impartial jury .
`` The judge stopped Dzhokhar 's counsel from asking prospective jurors questions like ' [ w ] hat did you know about the facts of this case before you came to court today ( if anything ) ? '
`` Thompson wrote , `` and ' [ w ] hat stands out in your mind from everything you have heard , read [ , ] or seen about the Boston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ? '
`` In another part of the opinion , Judge Juan Torruella wrote that the District Court judge relied on `` self-declarations of impartiality '' by prospective jurors , calling that `` an error of law and an abuse of discretion . ''
`` Tsarnaev presented a colorable claim that Juror 286 knowingly withheld from the court the fact that she posted twenty-two online comments mourning the death of [ 8-year-old bystander ] Martin Richard , '' Torruella wrote of the woman who would become the jury 's foreperson , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whom would later testify at trial ) , expressing 'BOSTON STRONG ' civic pride , and calling Tsarnaev a 'piece of garbage . '
`` Torruella also noted that three of the 12 jurors who voted admitted before the trial that they were convinced Tsarnaev was guilty , while another two said they believed he took part in the bomb attack .
`` With a jury so intensely impacted by the charged crimes , '' the appellate judge continued , `` and so exposed to inflammatory pretrial publicity — including reports detailing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls for Tsarnaev to be sentenced to death — I can not say with any degree of certainty that the jurors did not possess a 'predilection toward that penalty . '
`` '' In sum , '' Torruella concluded , `` the government can not show that the jury that convicted Tsarnaev and recommended that he be put to death was impartial . ''

Appeals Court Tosses Out Death Sentence For Boston Marathon Bomber
Enlarge this image toggle caption Maddie Meyer/Getty Images Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
A death penalty sentence against confessed Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was thrown out Friday by a federal appeals court in Boston.
Citing errors by a lower court, a three-judge panel from the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sent the widely publicized case back to the federal District Court that had convicted Tsarnaev in 2015 and ordered six death sentences for him as well as 11 concurrent life sentences.
In the ruling, that court was ordered to impanel a new jury and hold a sentencing retrial for the death penalty convictions.
"A core promise of our criminal-justice system is that even the very worst among us deserves to be fairly tried and lawfully punished," Judge O. Rogeriee Thompson wrote in the 224-page opinion, noting the District Court judge had failed to vet the trial's jurors adequately for bias.
Attorneys for Tsarnaev have acknowledged that he and his older brother Tamerlan, who was killed during the manhunt that followed the 2013 bombing, detonated two homemade pressure cooker bombs that killed three people and wounded at least 260 others near the finish line of the annual foot race.
"I am sorry for the lives I have taken, for the suffering that I have caused you, for the damage I have done, irreparable damage," Tsarnaev told the courtroom on the day he was sentenced, adding "in case there is any doubt, I am guilty of this attack, along with my brother."
Tsarnaev, who is now 27, is being held at the high-security supermax federal prison near Florence, Colo.
While the appellate court vacated the death sentences against the younger of the Tsarnaev brothers, it also made clear that he would never again be a free man.
"Dzhokhar will remain confined to prison for the rest of his life," Thompson wrote, "with the only question remaining being whether the government will end his life by executing him."
The higher court noted that the judge who presided over Tsarnaev's trial had rejected the defense team's request for a more distant trial venue where prospective jurors might be less likely to be prejudiced against the Chechen immigrant. That judge did so, the ruling maintained, promising that local jurors would be adequately screened.
But the three-judge panel ruled that the trial judge had failed to impanel an impartial jury.
"The judge stopped Dzhokhar's counsel from asking prospective jurors questions like '[w]hat did you know about the facts of this case before you came to court today (if anything)?' " Thompson wrote, "and '[w]hat stands out in your mind from everything you have heard, read[,] or seen about the Boston Marathon bombing and the events that followed it?' "
In another part of the opinion, Judge Juan Torruella wrote that the District Court judge relied on "self-declarations of impartiality" by prospective jurors, calling that "an error of law and an abuse of discretion."
"Tsarnaev presented a colorable claim that Juror 286 knowingly withheld from the court the fact that she posted twenty-two online comments mourning the death of [8-year-old bystander] Martin Richard," Torruella wrote of the woman who would become the jury's foreperson, "praising law enforcement officers (three of whom would later testify at trial), expressing 'BOSTON STRONG' civic pride, and calling Tsarnaev a 'piece of garbage.' "
Torruella also noted that three of the 12 jurors who voted admitted before the trial that they were convinced Tsarnaev was guilty, while another two said they believed he took part in the bomb attack.
"With a jury so intensely impacted by the charged crimes," the appellate judge continued, "and so exposed to inflammatory pretrial publicity — including reports detailing the extreme anguish of their neighbors and repeated calls for Tsarnaev to be sentenced to death — I cannot say with any degree of certainty that the jurors did not possess a 'predilection toward that penalty.' "
"In sum," Torruella concluded, "the government cannot show that the jury that convicted Tsarnaev and recommended that he be put to death was impartial."


npr--2020-07-31--San Francisco Proposes To Shift $120 Million From Police To Tackle Racial Disparities

San Francisco Proposes To Shift $ 120 Million From Police To Tackle Racial Disparities San Francisco Mayor London Breed plans to divert $ 120 million from law enforcement to efforts that address inequities faced by the city 's Black community in housing , health , economic opportunity and education .
The proposal comes two months after , as Breed put it during Friday 's announcement , `` the murder of George Floyd shook this country to its core , in a way that I have never seen before , '' stoking ongoing protest against police brutality and racial injustice .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the decision-making process was listening to Black voices .
`` It 's important that we allow Black people to lead this movement , '' she said .
Not elected officials , she said , but people in the community .
`` We have to listen to the people who have seen and lived the devastation resulting from decades of disinvestment , '' she said .
To that end , Breed and San Francisco Supervisor Shamann Walton commissioned a report by the city 's Human Rights Commission to identify community priorities .
Based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — the mayor has proposed that 60 % of the funding be directed for mental health , wellness and homelessness , and 35 % be directed to education , youth development and economic opportunity .
The reallocation of funds will take place over two years , from proposed budgets of $ 13.7 billion for fiscal year 2020-21 and $ 12.6 billion the following fiscal year .
Unlike other cities where police budget cuts are on the table , San Francisco police Chief Bill Scott has signaled his willingness to work with the smaller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be pain and sacrifice in terms of making these cuts , but we 'll absorb it , '' he told the San Francisco Chronicle .
Earlier this summer , Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti proposed a cut of as much as $ 150 million from the city 's police department budget , which has met with pushback from the local police union .

San Francisco Proposes To Shift $120 Million From Police To Tackle Racial Disparities
Enlarge this image toggle caption Eric Risberg/AP Eric Risberg/AP
San Francisco Mayor London Breed plans to divert $120 million from law enforcement to efforts that address inequities faced by the city's Black community in housing, health, economic opportunity and education.
The proposal comes two months after, as Breed put it during Friday's announcement, "the murder of George Floyd shook this country to its core, in a way that I have never seen before," stoking ongoing protest against police brutality and racial injustice.
Breed said that a key part of the decision-making process was listening to Black voices.
"It's important that we allow Black people to lead this movement," she said. Not elected officials, she said, but people in the community.
"We have to listen to the people who have seen and lived the devastation resulting from decades of disinvestment," she said.
To that end, Breed and San Francisco Supervisor Shamann Walton commissioned a report by the city's Human Rights Commission to identify community priorities.
Based on the report — issued earlier this week — the mayor has proposed that 60% of the funding be directed for mental health, wellness and homelessness, and 35% be directed to education, youth development and economic opportunity.
The reallocation of funds will take place over two years, from proposed budgets of $13.7 billion for fiscal year 2020-21 and $12.6 billion the following fiscal year.
Unlike other cities where police budget cuts are on the table, San Francisco police Chief Bill Scott has signaled his willingness to work with the smaller budget.
"There's going to be pain and sacrifice in terms of making these cuts, but we'll absorb it," he told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Earlier this summer, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti proposed a cut of as much as $150 million from the city's police department budget, which has met with pushback from the local police union.


npr--2020-07-31--Goat Sales For Eid Were Tanking Due To The Pandemic. So Marketers Got Creative

Goat Sales For Eid Were Tanking Due To The Pandemic .
So Marketers Got Creative The video clip shows a beauty pageant of sorts — but no contestants are promising world peace .
`` I look for beauty .
And aggression .
Things that stand out in a crowd , '' says judge Faisal Sheikh in the video .
Also known as Mr Faisu 07 , he is a TikTok star and an Instagram influencer based in Mumbai .
As if on cue , one of the contestants , Ninja Double Apple , tries to head butt him .
Sheikh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 9 out of 10 .
The contestant Heera does a regal head toss but only merits an 8 .
Heera 's coiffure is not up to snuff .
Ninja and Heera are goats at Bakra Mania , a goat market in Mumbai .
`` The goat farmer thought a TikTok star could help sell his goats , '' says Fahad Zariwala , who shot the video with Sheikh for his YouTube channel , FSA Entertainment .
The channel showcases many goat gems like `` India 's Cutest Butcher , '' `` Goat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Bakra Mania is lucky .
With the help of Sheikh and his 13 million Instagram followers , all of the market 's goats sold .
It 's not been easy for goat dealers in India these days .
Much of the country is under lockdown because of COVID-19 — and the market has tanked .
Customers are n't able to come out and shop , and because the shutdown has affected jobs , people are struggling economically .
But farmers and dealers across India are finding creative ways to drum up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online or hyping their wares on social media — especially now that it is Eid al-Adha .
The four-day Muslim holiday begins on July 31 and is celebrated traditionally with an animal sacrifice , or qurbani in Arabic .
India is home to over 180 million Muslims .
Families who can afford to do so will typically buy a goat or other animal to slaughter .
The meat is then divided equally among family , friends and the poor .
It symbolizes the Prophet Abraham 's willingness to sacrifice his son for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the weeks leading up to Eid , straggling lines of goats are usually seen ambling down the city streets heading to abattoirs and livestock markets .
But this year , in an effort to maintain social distancing as COVID-19 rates skyrocket in densely populated cities like Mumbai , the government has put some measures in place to keep the virus in check .
In early July , Mumbai 's state government announced that goats can only be sold online — and the main abattoir where they are slaughtered has been shut .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ city outskirts because authorities will not give them permission to enter the city .
Only a few truckloads of goats are being allowed in , leading to confusion and anger .
Meanwhile in Kolkata , big animal markets are shut .
Goats can still be found in illegal animal markets , says H. Zaman , the owner of Imperial Livestock and Agro Farm , a goat farm outside Kolkata .
He says in his upscale gated apartment complex in the city , there would be at least 100 sacrifices during Eid .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow public sacrifice in common areas to prevent disease transmission .
`` Last year so many cars lined up outside my farm , local farmers complained their tractors could n't get through .
If I sold 700-800 [ goats ] last year , this year I might sell 200 , '' says Zaman .
His goats sell for about $ 3 a pound .
Goats are about 60-110 pounds .
A special princely specimen can sometimes top 220 pounds and fetch an astronomical price .
Zaman got into goat farming about five years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that were not being force fed and injected to pump up their weight .
`` We grow our own alfalfa '' to feed the goats , he says .
`` And you can see the difference just in the sheen of their coats . ''
Over the past few weeks he has been selling his goats through messages on WhatsApp groups and social media .
Customers can come to the farm and pick up the goats — and Zaman says they can also use the space to slaughter the animal .
One of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scion of the family that founded one of Kolkata 's famous restaurants , Aminia , in 1929 .
Normally , Amin would go to the market with his father to select the perfect goat .
`` I liked Barbari goats , they were small and totally white although a little fatty , '' he says .
For Amin , the ability to buy goats virtually via WhatsApp has been a godsend .
As a diabetic , he has to be careful about crowds amid a pandemic , he says .
He bought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pictures over WhatsApp .
Other online goat retailers have also seen some recent success .
A Lucknow-based website called Pashubajaar has been selling goats online for the past five years .
The site resembles a matrimonial website , with goats listed by breed , weight , gender and number of teeth .
Sanjeev Kumar , founder of Pashubajaar , says he has seen a small bump in sales in the past few weeks , especially in the last 7 days .
`` With COVID , everything has changed because people ca n't go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding pictures to the profiles of the goats on his website to help with sales .
Muslim law dictates sacrificial goats be free from disabilities — and buyers prefer to inspect them personally .
The photos will give buyers a better idea of what to expect , explains Kumar , since they can not check the goats in person .
Kumar sources his goats from a network of some 450,000 farmers across India .
After a buyer selects a goat — say a brown-spotted Sirohi with drooping ears or a glossy black Osmanabadi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make a 20 % deposit to purchase the animal .
The goat will then go through a 10-day isolation period to make sure it is disease-free .
Pashubajaar 's drivers then transport the goat to the customer 's doorstep , and the customer pays the remaining fee .
But online purchases for goats are still in the minority , says Kumar .
Not everyone has access to a smartphone or a mobile payment system .
In smaller cities in India , goat markets are still open — but sales are expected to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a schoolteacher in Asansol , an industrial city a couple of hours outside Kolkata , says his community , mostly lower middle-class daily wagers , has been hit hard by the lockdown .
`` My own father is a daily wage earner , '' says Anwar .
`` Somehow my younger brother and I have managed to get a goat — and inshallah we will perform qurbani and distribute the meat among the poor . ''
The pandemic has nudged some in the community to rethink the age-old practice .
Politicians this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symbolic sacrifice such as donating blood .
Or for those who would rather cut a cake than a goat , a bakery in Lucknow sells cakes with pictures of goats on them .
But for Nadim Amin , nothing beats the real thing .
This year , he will keep up his family 's tradition — tending the three goats he bought on WhatsApp at home before slaughtering them on the terrace .
When I ask him if , as a boy , he ever fell in love with the goats he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` That is the idea of qurbani , '' he responds .
`` You have to sacrifice something you love . ''
Based in Kolkata , Sandip Roy is the author of the novel Do n't Let Him Know .
He tweets @ sandipr .

Goat Sales For Eid Were Tanking Due To The Pandemic. So Marketers Got Creative
YouTube
The video clip shows a beauty pageant of sorts — but no contestants are promising world peace.
"I look for beauty. And aggression. Things that stand out in a crowd," says judge Faisal Sheikh in the video. Also known as Mr Faisu 07, he is a TikTok star and an Instagram influencer based in Mumbai.
As if on cue, one of the contestants, Ninja Double Apple, tries to head butt him. Sheikh, impressed, gives Ninja Double Apple a 9 out of 10. The contestant Heera does a regal head toss but only merits an 8. Heera's coiffure is not up to snuff.
Ninja and Heera are goats up for sale at Bakra Mania, a goat market in Mumbai. "The goat farmer wanted more publicity. He thought Tiktok star would make the video more popular," says Fahad Zariwala, who shot the video with Sheikh for his YouTube channel, FSA Entertainment. The channel showcases many goat gems like "India's Cutest Butcher," "Goat Queen" and "Most Expensive Goat."
Bakra Mania is lucky. With the help of Sheikh and his 13 million Instagram followers, all of the market's goats sold.
It's not been easy for goat dealers in India these days. Much of the country is under lockdown because of COVID-19 — and the market has tanked. Customers aren't able to come out and shop, and because the shutdown has affected jobs, people are struggling economically.
But farmers and dealers across India are finding creative ways to drum up sales, whether it's selling animals online or hyping their wares on social media — especially now that it is Eid al-Adha. The four-day Muslim holiday begins on July 31 and is celebrated traditionally with an animal sacrifice, or qurbani in Arabic.
India is home to over 180 million Muslims. Families who can afford to do so will typically buy a goat or other animal to slaughter. The meat is then divided equally among family, friends and the poor. It symbolizes the Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son for the will of Allah in the Koran.
In the weeks leading up to Eid, straggling lines of goats are usually seen ambling down the city streets heading to abattoirs and livestock markets. But this year, in an effort to maintain social distancing as COVID-19 rates skyrocket in densely populated cities like Mumbai, the government has put some measures in place to keep the virus in check.
In early July, Mumbai's state government announced that goats can only be sold online — and the main abattoir where they are slaughtered has been shut. Truckloads of goats are stuck on the city outskirts because authorities will not give them permission to enter the city. Only a few truckloads of goats are being allowed in, leading to confusion and anger. Meanwhile in Kolkata, big animal markets are shut.
Goats can still be found in illegal animal markets, says H. Zaman, the owner of Imperial Livestock and Agro Farm, a goat farm outside Kolkata. He says in his upscale gated apartment complex in the city, there would be at least 100 sacrifices during Eid. This year, his building complex won't allow public sacrifice in common areas to prevent disease transmission.
"Last year so many cars lined up outside my farm, local farmers complained their tractors couldn't get through. If I sold 700-800 [goats] last year, this year I might sell 200," says Zaman. His goats sell for about $3 a pound. Goats are about 60-110 pounds. A special princely specimen can sometimes top 220 pounds and fetch an astronomical price.
Zaman got into goat farming about five years ago. He wanted to raise goats that were not being force fed and injected to pump up their weight. "We grow our own alfalfa" to feed the goats, he says. "And you can see the difference just in the sheen of their coats."
Over the past few weeks he has been selling his goats through messages on WhatsApp groups and social media. Customers can come to the farm and pick up the goats — and Zaman says they can also use the space to slaughter the animal.
One of his newer customers is Nadim Amin, the scion of the family that founded one of Kolkata's famous restaurants, Aminia, in 1929. Normally, Amin would go to the market with his father to select the perfect goat. "I liked Barbari goats, they were small and totally white although a little fatty," he says.
For Amin, the ability to buy goats virtually via WhatsApp has been a godsend. As a diabetic, he has to be careful about crowds amid a pandemic, he says. He bought three goats from Zaman by looking at pictures over WhatsApp.
Other online goat retailers have also seen some recent success. A Lucknow-based website called Pashubajaar has been selling goats online for the past five years. The site resembles a matrimonial website, with goats listed by breed, weight, gender and number of teeth.
Sanjeev Kumar, founder of Pashubajaar, says he has seen a small bump in sales in the past few weeks, especially in the last 7 days. "With COVID, everything has changed because people can't go to markets."
Now he is adding pictures to the profiles of the goats on his website to help with sales. Muslim law dictates sacrificial goats be free from disabilities — and buyers prefer to inspect them personally. The photos will give buyers a better idea of what to expect, explains Kumar, since they cannot check the goats in person.
Kumar sources his goats from a network of some 450,000 farmers across India. After a buyer selects a goat — say a brown-spotted Sirohi with drooping ears or a glossy black Osmanabadi buck with four teeth — they must make a 20% deposit to purchase the animal. The goat will then go through a 10-day isolation period to make sure it is disease-free. Pashubajaar's drivers then transport the goat to the customer's doorstep, and the customer pays the remaining fee.
But online purchases for goats are still in the minority, says Kumar. Not everyone has access to a smartphone or a mobile payment system.
In smaller cities in India, goat markets are still open — but sales are expected to be much lower this year. Tarique Anwar, a schoolteacher in Asansol, an industrial city a couple of hours outside Kolkata, says his community, mostly lower middle-class daily wagers, has been hit hard by the lockdown.
"My own father is a daily wage earner," says Anwar. "Somehow my younger brother and I have managed to get a goat — and inshallah we will perform qurbani and distribute the meat among the poor."
The pandemic has nudged some in the community to rethink the age-old practice. Politicians this year have floated the idea of a symbolic sacrifice such as donating blood. Or for those who would rather cut a cake than a goat, a bakery in Lucknow sells cakes with pictures of goats on them.
But for Nadim Amin, nothing beats the real thing. This year, he will keep up his family's tradition — tending the three goats he bought on WhatsApp at home before slaughtering them on the terrace. When I ask him if, as a boy, he ever fell in love with the goats he would bring home, he laughs gently. "That is the idea of qurbani," he responds. "You have to sacrifice something you love."
Based in Kolkata, Sandip Roy is the author of the novel Don't Let Him Know. He tweets @sandipr.


npr--2020-07-31--U.S. Missionary With No Medical Training Settles Suit Over Child Deaths At Her Center

U.S. Missionary With No Medical Training Settles Suit Over Child Deaths At Her Center Renee Bach , an American missionary who operated a charitable treatment center for severely malnourished children in Uganda despite having no medical training , has settled a lawsuit brought against her in Ugandan civil court by two women and a civil rights organization .
At least 105 children died in the charity 's care .
Bach was being sued by Gimbo Zubeda , whose son Twalali Kifabi was one of those children , as well as by a second mother , Kakai Annet , whose son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment by the charity .
Under the agreement reached this week , Bach and the charity — Serving His Children — have jointly agreed to pay about $ 9,500 to each of the mothers , with no admission of liability .
Primah Kwagala , a Ugandan civil rights attorney whose organization filed the suit on behalf of the mothers in January of last year , said that the settlement was in line with typical court judgments for medical malpractice death cases in Uganda and that it had brought her clients a measure of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no amount of money that can bring their kids back to life , '' said Kwagala .
But Kwagala said that for the women — both of whom live in extremely poor , remote villages — the court process was proving logistically and emotionally draining .
`` Each time they had to go through the story they were crying and wailing in court . ''
And , said Kwagala , the women also found comfort in finally seeing the medical files on their children provided by Bach in her court filings — as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who has returned to the United States , made to the mothers over Skype during court-mandated mediation sessions .
`` She did apologize to them , '' said Kwagala .
`` She did say she was sorry .
And she said she would not come back to [ Uganda ] .
She would n't be involved in medical practice in the country any more . ''
And all this was very meaningful to the mothers , said Kwagala , who told her , `` We just needed [ Bach ] to acknowledge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have feelings and we felt used by you when we came to your facility . ''
Contacted for comment by NPR , Bach gave her response through her U.S. attorney , David Gibbs .
In an email , Gibbs said that `` the settlement was deemed by all parties to be in the best interests of all involved . ''
In addition , Gibbs said that while he was not `` ethically allowed to publicly disseminate confidential settlement discussions , '' he could confirm that Bach was able to speak directly with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charity is shutting down due to a combination of the lawsuit , `` media pressure '' and the difficulties of fund-raising during the COVID-19 pandemic .
He added that `` Ms. Bach is not involved in any work in Uganda for her own personal safety . ''
Bach founded Serving His Children more than a decade ago shortly after completing her high school education in Virginia and moving to the Ugandan city of Jinja .
She soon made the treatment center the main focus of the charity and began taking in severely malnourished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respiratory infections , dehydration and swelling .
In an NPR report on Bach 's case published in August 2019 , experts on malnutrition told NPR that children in this condition are so fragile that unless a health provider knows exactly what he or she is doing , it is actually safer to do nothing .
Even actions as simple as putting the child on an IV to hydrate them can trigger a heart attack if the sodium and potassium content is n't continually adjusted to match the child 's fluctuating levels .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law such children must be treated at an advanced medical facility .
Yet for a time , not only was Bach 's treatment center unlicensed , it did not employ a single doctor .
As part of the lawsuit several former volunteers and staffers at the treatment centers filed affidavits describing incidents during which they witnessed Bach making medical decisions on behalf of children at the center and performing medical procedures , including blood transfusions — often without supervision .
In an interview with NPR for the August 2019 report , Bach disputed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while she did at times perform some procedures `` without a medical professional standing right next to me ... it was always under the request and direction of a medical professional . ''
The annual death rates at the center — around 20 % in 2011 and down to 10 % by 2013 — were at levels that would raise red flags by the standards used to judge international charities , according to Saul Guerrero , who specializes in childhood severe acute malnutrition at UNICEF .
Over the five-year period from 2010 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 940 children , of whom 105 died .
In 2015 Ugandan authorities shut down the center for operating without the required license .
A few years later , Uganda 's government authorized Bach to reopen her center , this time in direct partnership with a government health center in a different district .
At the time Serving His Children said Bach would no longer be involved in medical care .
Bach 's attorney , David Gibbs , said the employees at that center have now `` moved on in their professional careers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whom Serving His Children partnered ] continue to equip families and strive to prevent malnutrition . ''
Kwagala , the attorney for the mothers in the civil suit , says she has no plans to sue on behalf of additional families whose children died at Serving His Children 's center .
However , the American and Ugandan members of an advocacy group called No White Saviors , who helped connect the mothers to Kwagala , say they are working to mount additional cases .
An attorney engaged by the group , Robert Okot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal action by several families this coming Monday .

U.S. Missionary With No Medical Training Settles Suit Over Child Deaths At Her Center
Enlarge this image toggle caption Julia Rendleman for NPR Julia Rendleman for NPR
Renee Bach, an American missionary who operated a charitable treatment center for severely malnourished children in Uganda despite having no medical training, has settled a lawsuit brought against her in Ugandan civil court by two women and a civil rights organization.
At least 105 children died in the charity's care. Bach was being sued by Gimbo Zubeda, whose son Twalali Kifabi was one of those children, as well as by Kakai Annet, whose son Elijah Kabagambe died at home soon after treatment by the charity.
Under the agreement reached this week, Bach and the charity — Serving His Children — have jointly agreed to pay about $9,500 to each of the mothers, with no admission of liability.
Primah Kwagala, a Ugandan civil rights attorney whose organization filed the suit on behalf of the mothers in January of last year, said that the settlement was in line with typical court judgments for medical malpractice death cases in Uganda and that it had brought her clients a measure of "closure."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Majungu Eva/evashots_Photography Majungu Eva/evashots_Photography
"There's no amount of money that can bring their kids back to life," said Kwagala. But Kwagala said that for the women — both of whom live in extremely poor, remote villages — the court process was proving logistically and emotionally draining. "Each time they had to go through the story, they were crying and wailing in court." And, said Kwagala, the women also found comfort in finally seeing the medical files on their children provided by Bach in her court filings — as well as by informal statements that Bach, who has returned to the United States, made to the mothers over Skype during court-mandated mediation sessions.
"She did apologize to them," said Kwagala. "She did say she was sorry. And she said she would not come back to [Uganda]. She wouldn't be involved in medical practice in the country any more."
And all this was very meaningful to the mothers, said Kwagala, who told her, "We just needed [Bach] to acknowledge that we are human beings. We have feelings and we felt used by you when we came to your facility."
Contacted for comment by NPR, Bach gave her response through her U.S. attorney, David Gibbs. In an email, Gibbs said that "the settlement was deemed by all parties to be in the best interests of all involved."
In addition, Gibbs said that while he was not "ethically allowed to publicly disseminate confidential settlement discussions," he could confirm that Bach was able to speak directly with the mothers. Gibbs also said that the charity is shutting down because of a combination of the lawsuit, "media pressure" and the difficulties of fundraising during the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that "Ms. Bach is not involved in any work in Uganda for her own personal safety."
Bach founded Serving His Children more than a decade ago shortly after completing her high school education in Virginia and moving to the Ugandan city of Jinja. She soon made the treatment center the main focus of the charity and began taking in severely malnourished children with extra complications such as serious respiratory infections, dehydration and swelling.
Goats and Soda American With No Medical Training Ran Center For Malnourished Ugandan Kids. 105 Died American With No Medical Training Ran Center For Malnourished Ugandan Kids. 105 Died Listen · 8:16 8:16
In an NPR report on Bach's case published in August 2019, experts on malnutrition told NPR that children in this condition are so fragile that unless a health provider knows exactly what he or she is doing, it is actually safer to do nothing. Even actions as simple as putting the child on an IV to hydrate them can trigger a heart attack if the sodium and potassium content isn't continually adjusted to match the child's fluctuating levels. And under both international health guidelines and Ugandan law, such children must be treated at an advanced medical facility. Yet for a time, not only was Bach's treatment center unlicensed, but it also did not employ a single doctor.
As part of the lawsuit, several former volunteers and staffers at the treatment centers filed affidavits describing incidents during which they witnessed Bach making medical decisions on behalf of children at the center and performing medical procedures, including blood transfusions — often without supervision. In an interview with NPR for the August 2019 report, Bach disputed some of those accounts — stating that while she did at times perform some procedures "without a medical professional standing right next to me ... it was always under the request and direction of a medical professional."
toggle caption Jan. 21, 2019, court filing by complainants suing Renee Bach in the High Court of Uganda in Jinja
The annual death rates at the center — around 20% in 2011 and down to 10% by 2013 — were at levels that would raise red flags by the standards used to judge international charities, according to Saul Guerrero, who specializes in childhood severe acute malnutrition at UNICEF. Over the five-year period from 2010 to 2015, Bach says the center took in 940 children, of whom 105 died.
In 2015 Ugandan authorities shut down the center for operating without the required license. A few years later, Uganda's government authorized Bach to reopen her center, this time in direct partnership with a government health center in a different district. At the time, Serving His Children said Bach would no longer be involved in medical care.
Bach's attorney, David Gibbs, said the employees at that center have now "moved on in their professional careers, and the rural communities [with whom Serving His Children partnered] continue to equip families and strive to prevent malnutrition."
Kwagala, the attorney for the mothers in the civil suit, says she has no plans to sue on behalf of additional families whose children died at Serving His Children's center. However, the American and Ugandan members of an advocacy group called No White Saviors, who helped connect the mothers to Kwagala, say they are working to mount additional cases. An attorney engaged by the group, Robert Okot, told NPR that he would be announcing legal action by several families this Monday.


npr--2020-07-31--Florida's Gov. DeSantis Declares Emergency As Hurricane Isaias Closes In

Hurricane Isaias will drench Florida 's Atlantic coast this weekend after passing over the Bahamas , the National Hurricane Center said , warning of a dangerous storm surge , flooding and high winds .
Gov .
Ron DeSantis signed an order Friday declaring `` a state of emergency in every coastal county of Florida 's east coast , from Miami-Dade to Nassau counties , '' he said .
The storm could begin affecting South Florida `` as early as late tonight into tomorrow morning , with the potential to increase in strength to Category 2 [ hurricane ] , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before noon Friday .
As of now , officials do n't believe the storm will require the use of shelters , the governor said .
But he added that Floridians should ensure their emergency preparations are in order and be ready for potential power outages .
Isaias is currently a Category 1 hurricane , with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph .
But the storm is forecast to strengthen Friday night – and it 's expected to remain a hurricane for several days as it plows along the Southeastern U.S. coast .
North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an emergency Friday , clearing the way for the state to move trucks and supplies more easily .
Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam declared an emergency and directed residents to a preparedness guide .
The hurricane will move `` near or over the Northwestern Bahamas Saturday and near the east coast of the Florida peninsula Saturday afternoon through Sunday , '' the National Hurricane Center said .
`` Localized flooding is expected throughout the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands as Isaias is forecast to produce rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Friday .
In Florida , a hurricane warning — meaning hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the area — extends from Boca Raton up to the line between Volusia and Brevard counties .
Warning of a dangerous and destructive storm surge , the National Hurricane Center said that if the peak surge coincides with the ocean 's high tide , coastal areas from Jupiter Inlet to Ponte Vedra Beach could see a surge of 2 to 4 feet .
The system has become better organized Friday , and it is moving northwest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Over the next day , Isaias is expected to slow its forward motion and turn more toward the north-northwest , to hug the U.S. coastline .
`` Heavy rains associated with Isaias may begin to affect the eastern Carolinas by early next week , '' the hurricane center said .
`` This rain could result in isolated flash and urban flooding , especially in low-lying and poorly drained areas , as well as isolated minor river flooding . ''
If evacuations and shelters become necessary in North Carolina , the governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms .
`` If an individual has COVID symptoms , they will be redirected to a non-congregate sheltering option where they can more easily isolate , '' a statement from Cooper 's office said .
`` Hurricane preparations will be different given the COVID-19 pandemic , and families need to keep that in mind as they get ready , '' Cooper said .
Safety concerns about the storm prompted the Florida Division of Emergency Management initially to close all state-supported COVID-19 testing sites for several days , starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since changed after Isaias ' forecast track shifted farther to the east .
On Friday , DeSantis said only testing sites on the state 's eastern coast will be closed .

Florida's Gov. DeSantis Declares Emergency As Hurricane Isaias Closes In
Enlarge this image toggle caption National Weather Service National Weather Service
Updated at 10:56 p.m. ET
Hurricane Isaias will drench Florida's Atlantic coast this weekend after passing over the Bahamas, the National Hurricane Center said, warning of a dangerous storm surge, flooding and high winds.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an order Friday declaring "a state of emergency in every coastal county of Florida's east coast, from Miami-Dade to Nassau counties," he said.
The storm could begin affecting South Florida "as early as late tonight into tomorrow morning, with the potential to increase in strength to Category 2 [hurricane]," DeSantis said at a news conference shortly before noon Friday.
As of now, officials don't believe the storm will require the use of shelters, the governor said. But he added that Floridians should ensure their emergency preparations are in order and be ready for potential power outages.
Isaias is currently a Category 1 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. But the storm is forecast to strengthen overnight – and it's expected to remain a hurricane for several days as it plows along the Southeastern U.S. coast.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper also declared an emergency Friday, clearing the way for the state to move trucks and supplies more easily.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam declared an emergency and directed residents to a preparedness guide.
Enlarge this image toggle caption NOAA/NESDIS/STAR GOES-East NOAA/NESDIS/STAR GOES-East
The hurricane will move "near or over the Northwestern Bahamas Saturday and near the east coast of the Florida peninsula Saturday afternoon through Sunday," the National Hurricane Center said.
"Localized flooding is expected throughout the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands as Isaias is forecast to produce rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches," the Bahamas Meteorology Department said Friday.
In Florida, a hurricane warning — meaning hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the area — extends from Boca Raton up to the line between Volusia and Brevard counties.
Warning of a dangerous and destructive storm surge, the National Hurricane Center said that if the peak surge coincides with the ocean's high tide, coastal areas from Jupiter Inlet to Ponte Vedra Beach could see a surge of 2 to 4 feet.
The system became better organized Friday, and it is moving northwest at around 15 mph, the center said. Over the next day, Isaias is expected to slow its forward motion and turn more toward the north-northwest, to hug the U.S. coastline.
"Heavy rains associated with Isaias may begin to affect the eastern Carolinas by early next week," the hurricane center said. "This rain could result in isolated flash and urban flooding, especially in low-lying and poorly drained areas, as well as isolated minor river flooding."
If evacuations and shelters become necessary in North Carolina, the governor's office said, anyone seeking shelter will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms.
"If an individual has COVID symptoms, they will be redirected to a non-congregate sheltering option where they can more easily isolate," a statement from Cooper's office said.
"Hurricane preparations will be different given the COVID-19 pandemic, and families need to keep that in mind as they get ready," Cooper said.
Safety concerns about the storm prompted the Florida Division of Emergency Management initially to close all state-supported COVID-19 testing sites for several days, starting Thursday evening. But that plan has since changed after Isaias' forecast track shifted farther to the east. On Friday, DeSantis said only testing sites on the state's eastern coast will be closed.


npr--2020-07-31--A 37-Year-Old Opposition Candidate Challenges The Longtime Leader Of Belarus

In Belarus , a 37-year-old political novice is giving Europe 's longest-serving leader a run for his money .
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya is challenging Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko , 65 , in an unexpectedly contentious election set for Aug. 9 .
An English translator and mother of two , Tikhanovskaya decided to run after her husband , a popular blogger , was jailed in May .
`` I do n't need power , but my husband is behind bars , '' Tikhanovskaya told a giant campaign rally in the capital Minsk on Thursday .
`` I 've had to hide my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up with it .
I 'm tired of being silent .
I 'm tired of being afraid . ''
A huge crowd of supporters filled a city park , waving the flashlights on their cellphones as darkness fell .
Tikhanovskaya has been attracting crowds in towns across Belarus ever since she united with the campaigns of two other opposition candidates , one of whom is in pre-trial detention , the other who has fled to Russia for his safety .
Belarus — sandwiched between Russia and NATO members Poland , Lithuania and Latvia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fall of the Soviet Union three decades ago .
Lukashenko , who has been in power since 1994 , has survived on energy subsidies from the Kremlin , even while staving off Russian President Vladimir Putin 's overtures for closer political and economic integration .
Tikhanovskaya became Lukashenko 's chief opponent after her husband Sergei was denied registration as a candidate and jailed on charges of violating public order and election laws .
Sergei Tikhanovsky had gained popularity with his YouTube channel that took on socioeconomic issues ignored by state television .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of conscience '' and has condemned `` a growing clampdown on human rights '' in advance of the August vote .
Candidates , their supporters and political activists have all faced detention during the election campaign .
`` We are deeply concerned about the reports of mass protests and detentions of peaceful activists and journalists , '' U.S. State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said in a tweet posted by the U.S. Embassy in Minsk this month .
`` We think it is incredibly important for the government to provide a level playing field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the elections . ''
The United States has been without an ambassador to Minsk since 2008 , when bilateral relations broke down amid a crackdown on the Belarusian opposition .
Now Lukashenko is pursuing rapprochement with Washington as a way of countering pressure from the Kremlin .
In February , he received Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Minsk , and President Trump has since nominated a new U.S. ambassador .
Lukashenko , known for his folksy witticisms , alternately lambastes or praises the West , depending on the occasion .
During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unit last week , he compared recent events in the United States with those in Belarus .
`` We would not want to resort to using the armed forces , however , anything can happen .
The United States is a case in point , '' he said , referring to the deployment of U.S. federal agents amid continuing protests in some U.S. cities .
Lukashenko said modern wars begin with street protests : `` If there are not enough people here to take part in such revolutions , they will bring them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gangsters who are specially trained , mostly as part of private military companies . ''
Five days later , the Belarusian KGB reported to Lukashenko that 33 men working for a Russian private military contractor had been arrested in Minsk .
The KGB said the men were part of a team planning to foment unrest before the election , and that more than 150 others were still at large .
On Thursday , Belarusian investigators opened a criminal case against the Russians — and linked them to Tikhanovskaya 's husband .
She dismissed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Putin 's spokesman has said the reports out of Belarus are full of `` insinuations '' and `` speculation , '' and voiced the hope that the arrested Russians would be freed from their `` groundless detention . ''
He denied that private military contractors exist in Russia .
`` We need to remember that it 's a long-standing tradition of Lukashenko 's to use terrorists as bogeymen , '' wrote Andrei Sinitsyn , opinion editor of the Russian online journal Republic.ru .
`` After the elections , which Lukashenko won , these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were jailed anyway . ''
The Kremlin is interested in negotiating with a weakened Lukashenko , Sinitsyn said , but his removal as a result of a democratic election — or a revolution — would set a `` terrible precedent '' for Russia .
Belarusian opposition figures are afraid that the hunt for Russian mercenaries could be used as a pretext for more draconian measures by the authorities .
But that fear did n't stop Tikhanovskaya 's supporters from turning out en masse in Minsk .
`` They talk about some kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What revolution ?
Why provoke your own people ?
We have absolutely no need for fighters , we are peaceful people . ''

A 37-Year-Old Opposition Candidate Challenges The Longtime Leader Of Belarus
Enlarge this image toggle caption Celestino Arce/NurPhoto via Getty Images Celestino Arce/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Updated at 6 a.m. ET Saturday
In Belarus, a 37-year-old political novice is giving Europe's longest-serving leader a run for his money.
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya is challenging Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, 65, in an unexpectedly contentious election set for Aug. 9.
An English translator and mother of two, Tikhanovskaya decided to run after her husband, a popular blogger, was jailed in May.
"I don't need power, but my husband is behind bars," Tikhanovskaya told a giant campaign rally in the capital Minsk on Thursday. "I've had to hide my children. I'm tired of putting up with it. I'm tired of being silent. I'm tired of being afraid."
A huge crowd of supporters filled a city park, waving the flashlights on their cellphones as darkness fell. Tikhanovskaya has been attracting crowds in towns across Belarus ever since she united with the campaigns of two other opposition candidates, one of whom is in pre-trial detention, the other who has fled to Russia for his safety.
Tikhanovskaya's main campaign promise is to hold new, free and fair elections with the participation of all opposition candidates. Her campaign slogan is the same as the name of her husband's blog, "a country to live in," and she calls on Belarusians to demand quality health care and education, democratic elections and a foreign policy that seeks friends, not enemies, around the world.
Belarus — sandwiched between Russia and NATO members Poland, Lithuania and Latvia — has existed in a vacuum since the fall of the Soviet Union three decades ago. Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, has survived on energy subsidies from the Kremlin, even while staving off Russian President Vladimir Putin's overtures for closer political and economic integration.
Tikhanovskaya became Lukashenko's chief opponent after her husband Sergei was denied registration as a candidate and jailed on charges of violating public order and election laws. Sergei Tikhanovsky had gained popularity with his YouTube channel that took on socioeconomic issues ignored by state television.
Amnesty International considers Tikhanovsky a "prisoner of conscience" and has condemned "a growing clampdown on human rights" in advance of the August vote. Candidates, their supporters and political activists have all faced detention during the election campaign.
"We are deeply concerned about the reports of mass protests and detentions of peaceful activists and journalists," U.S. State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said in a tweet posted by the U.S. Embassy in Minsk this month. "We think it is incredibly important for the government to provide a level playing field for everyone who wants to take part in the elections."
The United States has been without an ambassador to Minsk since 2008, when bilateral relations broke down amid a crackdown on the Belarusian opposition.
Now Lukashenko is pursuing rapprochement with Washington as a way of countering pressure from the Kremlin. In February, he received Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Minsk, and President Trump has since nominated a new U.S. ambassador.
Lukashenko, known for his folksy witticisms, alternately lambastes or praises the West, depending on the occasion. During a visit to a Belarusian special forces unit last week, he compared recent events in the United States with those in Belarus.
"We would not want to resort to using the armed forces, however, anything can happen. The United States is a case in point," he said, referring to the deployment of U.S. federal agents amid continuing protests in some U.S. cities.
Lukashenko said modern wars begin with street protests: "If there are not enough people here to take part in such revolutions, they will bring them from abroad. These are professional military gangsters who are specially trained, mostly as part of private military companies."
Five days later, the Belarusian KGB reported to Lukashenko that 33 men working for a Russian private military contractor had been arrested in Minsk. The KGB said the men were part of a team planning to foment unrest before the election, and that more than 150 others were still at large. On Thursday, Belarusian investigators opened a criminal case against the Russians — and linked them to Tikhanovskaya's husband. She dismissed the allegations as "completely implausible"
Putin's spokesman has said the reports out of Belarus are full of "insinuations" and "speculation," and voiced the hope that the arrested Russians would be freed from their "groundless detention." He denied that private military contractors exist in Russia.
"We need to remember that it's a long-standing tradition of Lukashenko's to use terrorists as bogeymen," wrote Andrei Sinitsyn, opinion editor of the Russian online journal Republic.ru. "After the elections, which Lukashenko won, these stories fizzled out, although opposition politicians were jailed anyway."
The Kremlin is interested in negotiating with a weakened Lukashenko, Sinitsyn said, but his removal as a result of a democratic election — or a revolution — would set a "terrible precedent" for Russia.
Belarusian opposition figures are afraid that the hunt for Russian mercenaries could be used as a pretext for more draconian measures by the authorities. But that fear didn't stop Tikhanovskaya's supporters from turning out en masse in Minsk.
"They talk about some kind of revolution," Tikhanovskaya said. "What revolution? Why provoke your own people? We have absolutely no need for fighters, we are peaceful people."


npr--2020-07-31--Microsoft In Talks To Buy Teen Fave TikTok As Trump Ramps Up Pressure

Microsoft In Talks To Buy Teen Fave TikTok As Trump Ramps Up Pressure Microsoft is in talks to acquire TikTok , the hugely popular video-sharing app , according to a person familiar with the discussions .
If Microsoft buys TikTok , it will give the lumbering tech giant ownership of one of the trendiest social media platforms , favored by the youngest digital users coveted by all of Silicon Valley .
Microsoft is said to be just one of a number of interested buyers of the app .
For months , TikTok has been the go-to platform for teens and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , dance challenges and political activism .
Since the pandemic began , TikTok 's popularity has surged worldwide , logging in more than 180 million downloads in the U.S. alone , according to research firm Sensor Tower .
TikTok has also come under increasing scrutiny in Washington because it is owned by ByteDance , a Chinese company worth $ 100 billion .
The talks come just as the Trump administration is considering action against TikTok , including an executive action banning TikTok .
`` We may be banning TikTok , '' Trump told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off to Florida .
`` We 'll see what happens . ''
The Trump administration and some Democrats in Congress have been raising alarms over the possibility of the Chinese government compelling TikTok to turn over personal data of millions of Americans .
While there is no hard evidence that such data collection is occurring , Trump officials see the threat TikTok poses as real and for weeks now have been considering ways to ban TikTok or force it to sever ties with ByteDance .
For its part , TikTok says it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese Community Party , nor have Chinese officials ever asked for the data .
TikTok publicly discloses the data it collects on users , including what messages are exchanged , what videos are watched on the app , online browsing history and access to the contacts on a user 's phone .
Technology experts say that level of data collection is in line with other smartphone apps .
The person familiar with the acquisition talks pointed to the popular gay dating app Grindr as a possible model for TikTok .
Earlier this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grindr to a group of American investors .
The agreement was approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States , the same panel now examining TikTok .
In particular , the committee is now reviewing ByteDance 's purchase of Musical.ly , a video-sharing service that become popular in the U.S. but was then relaunched as TikTok and became the first Chinese-based app to become a huge global hit .
This deal would address the fears over Chinese ownership — worries the company has forcefully battled against .
TikTok 's corporate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company has long said it stores its data in Virginia .
Its backup servers are in Singapore , and it says Chinese officials do not have access to them .
Still , TikTok has been accused of using its algorithms to demote topics like Black Lives Matter and of censoring content to please the Chinese Communist Party .
In a nod to the concerns from Washington , TikTok 's newly-minted CEO Kevin Mayer announced this week that the company would take an unusual step toward transparency .
It will open up its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moderation decisions and data collection , to the public , he wrote .
`` We will not wait for regulation to come , '' Mayer wrote .
`` Experts can observe our moderation policies in real-time , as well as examine the actual code that drives our algorithms .
This puts us a step ahead of the industry , and we encourage others to follow suit . ''
In the same announcement , Mayer announced TikTok would hire 10,000 workers in the U.S. His statement was also a response to competition from Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launch a feature similar to TikTok next month .
It is reportedly offering hundreds of thousands of dollars to lure TikTok stars to its service .
Mayer called Facebook 's forthcoming feature a `` copycat '' service `` disguised as patriotism and designed to put an end to our very presence in the US . ''

Microsoft In Talks To Buy TikTok As Trump Threatens A Ban
Enlarge this image toggle caption Photo Illustration by Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Photo Illustration by Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Updated at 11:51 a.m. ET Saturday
President Trump has announced he plans to ban TikTok, the hugely popular video-sharing app, from operating in the U.S. as early as Saturday.
Trump's announcement comes after reports Friday that software giant Microsoft was in talks to acquire the app's U.S. operations. The president made it clear that he does not approve of the proposed acquisition.
"As far as TikTok is concerned, we're banning them from the United States," he told reporters traveling with him from Florida. He added that he could sign an executive order to enact the ban.
Following Trump's announcement, TikTok shared a message from its U.S. general manager, Vanessa Pappas, in which she said, "We're not planning on going anywhere." Pappas said that TikTok was "building the safest app because we know it's the right thing to do" and that it intended to bring more jobs to the U.S.
"I want to say thank you to the millions of Americans who use TikTok every day bringing their creativity and joy into our daily lives. We've heard your outpouring of support and we want to say thank you," said Pappas.
"We're here for the long run," she added.
If Microsoft buys TikTok, it would give the lumbering tech giant ownership of one of the trendiest social media platforms, favored by the youngest digital users coveted by all of Silicon Valley. Microsoft is said to be just one of a number of interested buyers of the app.
For months, TikTok has been the go-to platform for teens and millennials to showcase and spread comedy routines, dance challenges and political activism. Since the pandemic began, TikTok's popularity has surged worldwide, logging in more than 180 million downloads in the U.S. alone, according to research firm Sensor Tower.
TikTok has also come under increasing scrutiny in Washington because it is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company worth $100 billion.
Before his announcement, Trump floated the idea of banning the app on his way to Florida. "We may be banning TikTok," Trump told reporters earlier on Friday. "We'll see what happens."
"TikTok US user data is stored in the US, with strict controls on employee access," a TikTok spokesperson said, responding to Trump's announcement. "We are committed to protecting our user's privacy and safety as we continue to work to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform."
The spokesperson added that the company has hired nearly 1,000 people for the U.S. team.
The Trump administration and some Democrats in Congress have been raising alarms about the possibility of the Chinese government compelling TikTok to turn over personal data of millions of Americans. While there is no hard evidence that such data collection is occurring, Trump officials see the threat TikTok poses as real and for weeks now have been considering ways to ban TikTok or force it to sever ties with ByteDance.
TikTok says it has never turned over any data to the Chinese Community Party, nor have Chinese officials ever asked for the data.
TikTok publicly discloses what it does with the data it collects on users, including what messages are exchanged, what videos are watched on the app, online browsing history and access to the contacts on a user's phone. Technology experts say that level of data collection is in line with other smartphone apps.
The person familiar with the acquisition talks pointed to the popular dating app Grindr as a possible model for TikTok.
Earlier this year, U.S. officials approved the sale of Grindr to a group of American investors. The agreement was approved by the federal Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, the same panel now examining TikTok.
In particular, the committee is now reviewing ByteDance's purchase of Musical.ly, a video-sharing service that became popular in the U.S. but was then relaunched as TikTok and became the first Chinese-based app to become a global hit.
This deal would address the fears over Chinese ownership — worries the company has forcefully battled.
TikTok's corporate owner is based in Beijing, but the company has long said it stores its data in Virginia. Its backup servers are in Singapore, and it says Chinese officials do not have access to them.
Still, TikTok has been accused of using its algorithms to demote topics like Black Lives Matter and of censoring content to please the Chinese Communist Party.
In a nod to the concerns from Washington, TikTok's newly minted CEO, Kevin Mayer, announced this week that the company would take an unusual step toward transparency. It will open up its algorithms, as well as its content moderation decisions and data collection, to the public, he wrote.
"We will not wait for regulation to come," Mayer wrote. "Experts can observe our moderation policies in real-time, as well as examine the actual code that drives our algorithms. This puts us a step ahead of the industry, and we encourage others to follow suit."
In the same announcement, Mayer announced TikTok would hire 10,000 workers in the U.S.
His statement was also a response to competition from Facebook. The social media giant plans to launch a feature similar to TikTok next month. It is reportedly offering hundreds of thousands of dollars to lure TikTok stars to its service.
Mayer called Facebook's forthcoming feature a "copycat" service "disguised as patriotism and designed to put an end to our very presence in the U.S."
NPR's Shannon Bond and Wynne Davis contributed to this report.


npr--2020-07-31--Florida 17-Year-Old, 'Mastermind' Of Twitter Hack, And Two Others Face Charges

Florida 17-Year-Old , 'Mastermind ' Of Twitter Hack , And Two Others Face Charges Prosecutors have announced charges against three individuals , a 17-year-old from Florida and two men , from Florida and Britain , in connection with a hack that hit some of Twitter 's most prominent accounts , in the largest and most well-coordinated security breach in the platform 's history .
Authorities in Florida say Graham Ivan Clark , 17 , of Tampa , Fla. , masterminded the attack , allegedly breaking into the accounts of 130 Twitter accounts and duping followers of influential users to transfer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accounts associated with Clark .
He is charged with 30 felonies in the state , including fraud , identity theft and hacking .
In addition , federal prosecutors unsealed wire fraud , money laundering and other charges against Nima Fazeli , 22 , of Orlando , Fla. and Mason Sheppard , 19 , of Bognor Regis , U.K .
They are accused of helping Clark sell access to some of the hacked accounts .
Twitter has said the hackers used a phone `` spear phishing attack '' to trick Twitter employees to turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to internal systems .
The Florida prosecutors on Friday added new detail about how exactly the scheme worked : Clark allegedly presented himself as a member of Twitter 's IT team to a Twitter employee , and convinced that employee to hand over company credentials , which Clark used to get into the company 's customer service portal .
Security protections were overcome and the passwords of some 130 accounts were reset , allowing the hackers to take control of the accounts , officials at Twitter have said .
Clark , who recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an ordinary 17-year-old , said Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren at a press conference on Friday .
`` This was a highly sophisticated attack on a magnitude not seen before . ''
According to the federal charging documents , a user known as Rolex # 373 , identified by authorities as Fazeli , discussed with another unidentified individual who went by Kirk # 5270 on the online messaging platform Discord , plans to break into dozens of Twitter accounts .
They allegedly discussed selling access to the hacked profiles for up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' slang for account names that are highly desirable .
On July 15 , the hackers unleashed their havoc .
The accounts of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos , Tesla CEO Elon Musk , former president Barack Obama and others influential users tweeted similar messages that said some version of : in the spirit of generosity , payments of $ 1,000 sent to an anonymous Bitcoin address will be doubled `` for the next 30 minutes . ''
To many , it was unquestionably a scam .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to federal investigators , who found that 415 transfers were made into the scam account , totaling about $ 117,000 .
`` Clark hacked into the Twitter accounts of famous people and celebrities , but they were not the primary victims .
This 'Bit-Con ' was designed to defraud money from regular Americans from across the country and here in Florida , '' Warren said .
`` There is a false belief within the criminal hacker community that attacks like the Twitter hack can be perpetrated anonymously and without consequence , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Northern District of California .
`` Criminal conduct over the Internet may feel stealthy to the people who perpetrate it , but there is nothing stealthy about it .
In particular , I want to say to would-be offenders , break the law , and we will find you , '' Anderson said .
Twitter said in a statement : `` We appreciate the swift actions of law enforcement in this investigation and will continue to cooperate as the case progresses . ''
The attack has exposed vulnerabilities on the platform , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news outlets , companies , celebrities and politicians , including President Donald Trump .
The attack targeted 130 Twitter accounts , tweeted from 45 of them , accessed the direct messages of 36 and downloaded data from seven accounts , the company said .
Twitter said it has `` significantly limited '' access to internal tools and is `` improving our methods for detecting and preventing inappropriate access to our internal systems . ''

Florida 17-Year-Old, 'Mastermind' Of Twitter Hack, And Two Others Face Charges
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alastair Pike/AFP via Getty Images Alastair Pike/AFP via Getty Images
Updated 8:27 p.m. ET Wednesday
Prosecutors have announced charges against three individuals, a 17-year-old from Florida and two men, from Florida and Britain, in connection with a hack that hit some of Twitter's most prominent accounts, in the largest and most well-coordinated security breach in the platform's history.
Authorities in Florida say Graham Ivan Clark, 17, of Tampa, Fla., masterminded the attack, allegedly breaking into the accounts of 130 Twitter accounts and duping followers of influential users to transfer more than $100,000 in Bitcoin to accounts associated with Clark. He is charged with 30 felonies in the state, including fraud, identity theft and hacking.
(NPR is naming Clark because he is being charged under Florida state law as an adult.)
In addition, federal prosecutors unsealed wire fraud, money laundering and other charges against Nima Fazeli, 22, of Orlando, Fla. and Mason Sheppard, 19, of Bognor Regis, U.K. They are accused of helping Clark sell access to some of the hacked accounts.
Twitter has said the hackers used a phone "spear phishing attack" to trick Twitter employees to turn over information that gave the attackers access to internal systems.
The Florida prosecutors on Friday added new detail about how exactly the scheme worked: Clark allegedly presented himself as a member of Twitter's IT team to a Twitter employee, and convinced that employee to hand over company credentials, which Clark used to get into the company's customer service portal.
Security protections were overcome and the passwords of some 130 accounts were reset, allowing the hackers to take control of the accounts, officials at Twitter have said.
Clark, who recently graduated from high school, is not an ordinary 17-year-old, said Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren at a press conference on Friday. "This was a highly sophisticated attack on a magnitude not seen before."
According to the federal charging documents, a user known as Rolex#373, identified by authorities as Fazeli, discussed with another unidentified individual who went by Kirk#5270 on the online messaging platform Discord, plans to break into dozens of Twitter accounts.
Enlarge this image toggle caption U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California
They allegedly discussed selling access to the hacked profiles for up to $2,500 for "OG accounts," slang for account names that are highly desirable.
Enlarge this image toggle caption U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California
On July 15, the hackers unleashed their havoc.
The accounts of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, former President Barack Obama and others influential users tweeted similar messages that said some version of: in the spirit of generosity, payments of $1,000 sent to an anonymous Bitcoin address will be doubled "for the next 30 minutes."
To many, it was unquestionably a scam. But more than 400 people fell for it, according to federal investigators, who found that 415 transfers were made into the scam account, totaling about $117,000.
"Clark hacked into the Twitter accounts of famous people and celebrities, but they were not the primary victims. This 'Bit-Con' was designed to defraud money from regular Americans from across the country and here in Florida," Warren said.
U.S. Attorney David Anderson for the Northern District of California, said agents with the IRS analyzed the blockchain technology Bitcoin relies on to de-anonymize the transactions in the scheme, leading to the alleged hackers.
"There is a false belief within the criminal hacker community that attacks like the Twitter hack can be perpetrated anonymously and without consequence," Anderson said.
"Criminal conduct over the Internet may feel stealthy to the people who perpetrate it, but there is nothing stealthy about it. In particular, I want to say to would-be offenders, break the law, and we will find you," Anderson said.
Twitter said in a statement: "We appreciate the swift actions of law enforcement in this investigation and will continue to cooperate as the case progresses."
The attack has exposed vulnerabilities on the platform, which is a major communications channel for news outlets, companies, celebrities and politicians, including President Donald Trump.
The attack targeted 130 Twitter accounts, tweeted from 45 of them, accessed the direct messages of 36 and downloaded data from seven accounts, but Twitter officials say none of the private information downloaded involved a current or former U.S. elected official.
Twitter said it has "significantly limited" access to internal tools and is "improving our methods for detecting and preventing inappropriate access to our internal systems."