Articles

Steve Bannon indicted, Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon arrested

 Steve Bannon indicted, Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon arrested. Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon was arrested Thursday after being charged with defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors through his “We Build the Wall” fundraising campaign. Bannon and three associates were indicted in a federal investigation in the Southern District of New York. Prosecutors allege the four defrauded donors by raising “more than $25 million to build a wall along the southern border of the United States,” but some of that money was used for personal gain.  The United States Postal Inspection Service assisted in the investigation.  Others in the indictment are Timothy Shea, a 49-year-old from Colorado accused of owning a shell company, Brian Kolfage, a disabled Iraq war veteran, and Andrew Badolato, who according to his own website was a contributor to Breitbart News, the conservative publication Bannon used to run.  The campaign was intended to raise money...

First male murder hornet, can decimate entire hives of honeybees

 First male murder hornet, can decimate entire hives of honeybees. The murder-hornet-hunting heroes at the Washington State Department of Agriculture have successfully trapped a male specimen—the first of its kind found stateside. If you’re keeping score at home, that brings the grand total of murder hornets found in Washington State to seven, all in Whatcom County. Thoughts and prayers for the folks there, as they obviously must have pissed off some eldritch deity to be plagued by these terrifying flying horrors. The capture was a bit of a shock, as the WSDA didn’t expect to see any male Asian giant hornets (the murder hornets’ only slightly less scary scientific name) for at least a few more weeks. The males of the species are typically still hibernating around this time of year, only emerging in late summer and early fall to hunt for food to sustain the next year’s queen. “Trappin...

Nestle vegan tuna, Nestlé launches plant-based Vuna with 'rich flavour

 Nestle vegan tuna, Nestlé launches plant-based Vuna with 'rich flavour. Zurich:  Nestle SA is adding faux tuna to its growing plant-protein portfolio as the world’s largest food company expands beyond vegan burgers. The tuna alternative, based on pea protein and wheat gluten, will first be sold in Nestle’s home market of Switzerland, under its Garden Gourmet brand, at the end of August. While the plant-based seafood industry lags the faux meat and dairy markets — perhaps because fish itself is already considered a healthy alternative to red meat — Nestle is joining an increasing number of competitors trying to win the category. Impossible Foods Inc. said last year that it’s working on fishless fish, while Conagra Brands Inc.’s Gardein sells frozen plant-based fish fillets. Private equity-backed Good Catch makes tuna and crab cakes from legumes. Concerns about the future of the fishing industry are also rising. The percentage of fish stocks that are within biologically su...

Nicolas Rousseau painting owner, Nazi-looted French painting put on display

 Nicolas Rousseau painting owner, Nazi-looted French painting put on display. A 19th-century oil painting stolen from occupied France during World War II has gone on display in a bid to trace its rightful owners after being returned by the son of the German soldier who took it on orders from above. After 76 years in Germany, the small untitled artwork by French painter Nicolas Rousseau is back in France and exhibited at the World Centre for Peace, Liberty and Human Rights in the northeastern town of Verdun. Next to it hangs a sign: "If you recognise the landscape or have any information about this painting, we would be grateful if you would let us know." Philippe Hansch, the centre's head, went to fetch the painting from Berlin at the beginning of August and brought it back by car. For the last fortnight, it has hung in the lobby of the centre, which receives around 60,000 visitors a year, in the hope it will nudge someone's memory and lead the painting back to i...

Germany dog walking law, Walkies could become the law for German dog owners

 Germany dog walking law, Walkies could become the law for German dog owners. Taking your dog for walks twice a day for at least an hour in total could soon become the law in Germany. There could also be a ban on keeping dogs chained for long periods. Rules are also being devised to crack down on "puppy farms" by banning breeders from looking after more than three litters at any one time. "Pets are not cuddly toys, their needs have to be taken into account," Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner said about the planned changes. 'No knock on the door' Under the planned rules, dog owners: will have to take their dogs for walks twice a day for a minimum of one hour in total will not be allowed to keep their dogs chained for long periods of time will not be allowed to leave dogs alone the whole day Breeders will be restricted to looking after a maximum of three litters and puppies will have to spend a minimum of four hours a day in human company to ensure they...

Tavis Smiley affairs, The talk show host was previously ordered to pay $1.5 million

 Tavis Smiley affairs, The talk show host was previously ordered to pay $1.5 million. A judge ordered  Tavis Smiley  to pay $2.6 million to PBS as a result of a breached morals clause stemming from multiple claims of sexual misconduct with subordinates. In March, Smiley was determined by a jury to have  breached his contract  following a three-week trial that saw six women testify that he had propositioned them for sex and threatened consequences if they rejected him. At the time, the jury awarded PBS $1.5 million to make up the cost of the last two seasons of Smiley’s show. However, according to  Variety , the network later argued that it was entitled to more per the morals clause. The outlet reports that Judge Yvonne Williams agreed in her Aug. 5 ruling that $2.6 million will be awarded to PBS. That includes $1.9 million in liquidated damages. The judge also awarded the network $702,898 that corporate underwriters had paid Smiley’s company for ...

Todd Nance death, Widespread Panic founding drummer Todd Nance dies at 57

 Todd Nance death, Widespread Panic founding drummer Todd Nance dies at 57. The founding drummer of Athens-reared Widespread Panic has passed away. Todd Nance died early Wednesday morning in Athens, according to a statement from his family, after “sudden and unexpectedly severe complications of a chronic illness.” Nance was 57. The beat keeper for the jam rockers, a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, met future Widespread Panic bandmate Michael Houser in the late-‘70s while in high school. After moving to Atlanta in the early-‘80s, Nance was contacted by Houser to join a band with Houser’s University of Georgia dorm-mate, John Bell, as well as bassist Dave Schools. The first show as Widespread Panic with Nance on drums took place at a charity event in Athens in 1986. In 2014, Nance took a hiatus from Widespread Panic for personal reasons and officially left the band in 2016. He was replaced by Duane Trucks, who has served as the Widespread Panic drummer since Nance’s departure....