How Bad Are U.S. Wildfires? Even Hawaii Is Battling a Surge

“I’ve never seen a fire this large in my lifetime,” said Emma-Lei Gerrish, right, whose family raises animals in the hills above Pa’auilo.Credit...Michelle Mishina Kunz for The New York Times

By Simon Romero

PA’AUILO, Hawaii — The blaze first swept across parched fields of guinea grass. Then the flames got so close to Emma-Lei Gerrish’s house that she feared for her life.

“I was terrified it was going to jump the gulch,” said Ms. Gerrish, 26, whose Quaker family raises cows and sheep in the hills above Pa’auilo, a ranching outpost on Hawaii’s Big Island. “I’ve never seen a fire this large in my lifetime.”

By the time firefighters got the wildfire under control last month — with a mix of helicopters dropping water while residents drove bulldozers to create firebreaks — more than 1,400 acres had been burned, adding to the tens of thousands across the state since 2018.

Hawaii may be graced with tropical forests, making parts of the islands some of the wettest places on the planet, but it is also increasingly vulnerable to wildfires. Heavy rains encourage unfettered growth of invasive species, like guinea grass, and dry, hot summers make them highly flammable.

How To Earn Money In Your Sleep - Omokri

From the IG Desk of Reno Omokri:

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TOP 060721 NEWS SNIPPETS

“What we have delivered, based on the mandate of the Federal Executive Council, is a 1.52 MegaWatts Solar System that will provide uninterrupted power supply to 5 blocks housing the Ministry of Works and Housing and Ministry of Environment and Lands.

“This project employed 382 artisans and 176 skilled workers throughout its duration, in fulfilment of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of creating jobs.

“It would see to the reduction of average diesel consumption from 764,248 litres per annum to 166,825 litres per annum and cost-saving of NGN270,945,000 over 20 years and contribute towards the reduction of government operational expenses and reduction of recurrent expenditure.

A Look Inside ‘Summer Camp For Billionaires'

Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Vice President of Partnerships Dan Rose and Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg walk together at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference on July 12, 2018 in Sun Valley, Idaho. Top tech and media moguls descend on the resort every year for a week of activities - and deals.

Drew Angerer/Getty Images

This week, at the “Summer Camp For Billionaires’ the top executives at the biggest and most influential companies in tech and media, including Apple's Tim Cook and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, will get together at the Sun Valley Resort, a getaway that dates back to 1936, in a tiny town in the Sawtooth Mountains.

NPR reports that the summer camp was suspended last year because of the pandemic. But this year, these top moguls are traveling again to Sun Valley for an annual weeklong gathering organized by a boutique investment firm called Allen & Company that is known as intensely private. Run by the same family since it was founded in 1922, Allen & Co. may be small, but it has developed some deep relationships that have led to roles in some of the biggest tech and media deals and initial public offerings in the last half decades, reports NPR.

According to the report, Allen & Co.  was an adviser in Comcast's acquisition of Time Warner Cable, a $45 billion deal, and Facebook's purchase of WhatsApp for $19 billion. Allen & Co. was an underwriter on Google's and Facebook's IPOs. For almost 40 years, its annual Sun Valley conference has been central to its mission.

UK Methodist Church to allow same-sex-marriage after historic vote

After debates on the topic at the Methodist Conference, the proposals to allow same-sex marriages were passed with 254 votes in favor and 46 against

As such, the Methodist church has become the largest religious denomination in the UK to allow same-sex marriages, putting it at odds with the Church of England.

The Church announced on Wednesday that same-sex couples will be allowed to get married on its premises, although, the freedom of conscience clause will allow ministers to opt out of conducting such weddings.

According to a report by the Guardian, the Rev Sonia Hicks, elected as the Methodists’ first black female president at the weekend, said it was a “historic day for our church”. She urged people “to support each other respecting our differences”. Dignity & Worth, a campaign group in the Methodist Church, said the vote was a “momentous step on the road to justice and inclusion” after many years of sometimes painful conversations. Rev. Sam McBratney, who chairs the group, praised the “courageous step” taken by the church.

The report states that the conference also voted to recognise, accept, and celebrate the love and commitment of unmarried cohabiting couples. Same-sex marriage is forbidden in the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church but permitted by Quakers in Britain, the Scottish Episcopal Church, and United Reformed Church. Jayne Ozanne, a campaigner for LGBT+ equality and a member of the C of E’s ruling body, the General Synod, said the vote reflected “the significant shift that there has been among Christian attitudes in England, and shows how so many people would echo the recent call of Bishop Paul Bayes to allow same-sex marriage in the C of E”.

UK Based Artist Dwill Drops “Onyeoma”

UK Based Gospel Singer Dwill makes her grand debut entry as a gospel artist with her first official released single titled “Onyeoma” (God is Good), Xclusive Gospel reports.

Coming from a musical childhood and years of singing, ministering and working with musicians and artists, the report submits that Dwill believes this is her set time, “there is time for everything God wants you to do, so here is it.  ‘Onyeoma’ (God is Good) is an inspirational song given to Dwill by God to bless humanity. This is a song that welcomes the presence of God in the atmosphere to make any impossible situation possible. Listen and be blessed.

How can You Lead Many To Destruction and You Escape Perdition? - Bamiloye

From the IG Desk of Mike Bamiloye:

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Lux Terra holds 2nd Certificate Award Ceremony for Graduates of its Basic Psycho-Trauma Healing Skills Course

Wednesday June 30th, 2021, the Psycho-Spiritual Institute of Lux Terra Leadership Foundation in partnership with Nasarawa State University, Keffi, hosted its 2nd Certificate Award Ceremony for 189 successful participants at its "Basic Psycho-Trauma Healing Skills" training programmes, held between 2019 and 2020.

Among dignitaries at the event were Professor Andrew Zamani, former President of the Nigerian Psychological Association and Dr Samuel Alhassan, Head of the Dept of Psychology, Nasarawa State University.

Participants at the training programme were mainly drawn from the states of Northern Nigeria, with a few others from the South. They included Doctors, Clinical Psychologists, Social Workers, University Teachers, functionaries of Emergency Relief Agencies, Christian and Muslim Religious Leaders, and Sundry Volunteers, especially those who assist trauma victims in IDP camps.

Kidnappers disguised as a Bishop, Military man, stormed Dunamis to trick me — Pastor Enenche

Paul Enenche, Senior Pastor of the Dunamis International Church

The Senior Pastor of the Dunamis International Church, Abuja, Dr Paul Enenche, has narrated that two kidnappers, who disguised as a bishop from The Gambia and a naval officer stormed the church’s headquarters, Glory Dome, at the Airport Road Abuja to defraud him.

According to Sahara Reporters, Enenche stated this during a sermon last Wednesday that they were, however, exposed by the Spirit of God. He stated that the suspected criminals were exposed during a chat with a little girl who they had kidnapped from Anambra State. He revealed that the assailants were handed over to law enforcement agents after which they confessed to be criminals.

“On Monday I received a text message from a bishop who claimed he came from the country of Gambia and that he wanted to see me because he had an encounter where he was directed to meet with me so that I can pray and impact him so he can return to Gambia”, Enenche said. ”He said he got someone’s number who would give him my contact, so after contacting the person, he (man in Nigeria) urged him to come to him so they would both meet me.

“The bishop told me that the man who promised to bring him to me demanded N1 million which according to him, he gave but said the person was no longer answering his calls.

“We called our pastor in the local government (area) where the man said he was, and when our pastor met the man, he told us that the story sounded real.

South Africa's Ex-President Jacob Zuma Gets A 15- Month-Jail-Term for contempt of court

Former South African President Jacob Zuma

South Africa's former President Jacob Zuma has been found guilty of contempt of court and sentenced to 15 months in prison for defying a court order to appear before an inquiry probing wide-ranging allegations of corruption during his tenure from 2009 to 2018, NPR reports.

According to the report, Zuma was not in court for the ruling on Tuesday and has been ordered to hand himself over within five days to a police station in his hometown of Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal province or in Johannesburg. If Zuma fails to turn himself in within five days South Africa's minister of police and the police commissioner have been ordered to take him into custody within three days.

"The Constitutional Court can do nothing but conclude that Mr Zuma is guilty of the crime of contempt of court," Judge Sisi Khampepe said. "This kind of recalcitrance and defiance is unlawful and will be punished. I am left with no option but to commit Mr Zuma to imprisonment, with the hope that doing so sends an unequivocal message... the rule of law and the administration of justice prevails. The majority judgement orders an unsuspended sentence of imprisonment for a period (of 15 months)," she declared.

Zuma, 79, is accused of enabling the plunder of state coffers during his nearly nine-year stay in office.

Nnamdi Kanu Back In Nigeria, Re-arrested

Nnamdi Kanu, Leader of IPOB                     [Photo Credit: Pulse.ng]

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of banned separatist group the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been arrested and is in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, to face trial, a spokesman for the justice minister said on Tuesday, Reuters reports.

Intercepted on June 27, Channels Television reports that Kanu is expected to be re-arraigned before the Federal High Court for the continuation of his trial, an information made known at a briefing in Abuja on Tuesday by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

According to Mr Malami, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the Federal Government’s application to detain the IPOB leader in a DSS facility ahead of the continuation of his trial.

Nearly all COVID deaths in US are now among unvaccinated

Nearly all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. now are in people who weren’t vaccinated, a staggering demonstration of how effective the shots have been and an indication that deaths per day — now down to under 300 — could be practically zero if everyone eligible got the vaccine.

An Associated Press analysis of available government data from May shows that “breakthrough” infections in fully vaccinated people accounted for fewer than 1,200 of more than 853,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations. That’s about 0.1%.

And only about 150 of the more than 18,000 COVID-19 deaths in May were in fully vaccinated people. That translates to about 0.8%, or five deaths per day on average.

The AP analyzed figures provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC itself has not estimated what percentage of hospitalizations and deaths are in fully vaccinated people, citing limitations in the data.

Among them: Only about 45 states report breakthrough infections, and some are more aggressive than others in looking for such cases. So the data probably understates such infections, CDC officials said.

Still, the overall trend that emerges from the data echoes what many health care authorities are seeing around the country and what top experts are saying.

The cutest thing you'll see all weekend - The Wild Capture

Take this for a weekend laugh from The Wild Capture: