Latest news with #Gaia
Time of India
a day ago
- Science
- Time of India
Astronomers discover blazing Betelgeuse has companion star
This is an AI generated image. Used for representation purpose only. Since at least the time of the ancient Egyptians, people across the world have gazed up in awe at Betelgeuse , one of the brightest stars blazing in the night sky. Now astronomers have discovered that this red supergiant , known to many as the hunter's shoulder in the Orion constellation , is being orbited by a much smaller companion star , a study said on Monday. It is not the first time Betelgeuse has surprised stargazers. Seemingly out of nowhere, the giant star dramatically dimmed for five months between 2019 and 2020, leading some scientists to suggest it could soon die in an epic supernova explosion. Further observations revealed that this event -- known as the " Great Dimming " -- was actually caused by material ejected from the surface that cooled part of the star, creating a dust cloud that blocked its light. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Swelling and internal bleeding in the brain, help this baby Donate For Health Donate Now Undo But scientists could still not explain why Betelgeuse's brightness changes regularly, both on a 400-day cycle and another that lasts nearly six years. In a paper titled "A Buddy for Betelgeuse" published in December, some researchers theorised that the longer variation could be caused by a hidden small star orbiting the behemoth. Astronomers using the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii have now discovered this elusive companion, according to a new study in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. - Little buddy - This companion has a mass around 1.5 times greater than our Sun, the research estimated. That means it is dwarfed by Betelgeuse, which is 1,000 times bigger than the Sun. The companion star is around four times the distance from Betelgeuse as the Earth is from the Sun, which is quite close for a stellar companion. The discovery is the first time such a close companion star has been detected orbiting a supergiant, according to a statement from the US research centre NOIRLab, which operates the Gemini Observatory. Betelgeuse is more than 10,000 times brighter than the Sun, its blinding light making spotting anything nearby difficult. Steve Howell, a NASA scientist who led the research team, said previous "papers that predicted Betelgeuse's companion believed that no one would likely ever be able to image it". However the Gemini North telescope was able to spot the much smaller, dimmer star using a technique called speckle imaging. This involves assembling many images taken with short exposure times to overcome the distortions that Earth's atmosphere causes ground-bound telescopes. According to Greek myth, the giant hunter Orion claimed he would kill all the world's beasts, so Earth goddess Gaia sent a scorpion to kill him. God king Zeus then turned both Orion and the scorpion -- Scorpius -- into constellations. Earlier, ancient Egyptians included Betelgeuse in the constellation Osiris, their god of the dead. Even earlier, research has suggested that Indigenous Australians included Betelgeuse in their own constellations -- and had noticed the star's varying brightness.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Health
- Forbes
10 Ways To Celebrate International Self-Care Day This July
Everybody of every age can have a self-care plan in their hip pocket to celebrate International ... More Self-Care Day this July. July 24th is designated International Self-Care Day, an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of your self-care to boost mental health around the world, promote self-care in your organizations or communities and take good care of yourself. Self-care isn't a once in a year proposition. It's a seven-day-a-week, 24-hour-a-day, 365 days a year proposition. But many people don't understand self-care. Before you can practice it, you must know what it is. What Is Self-Care? Many of us have been taught that self-care is selfish or narcissistic—even cheesy and that self-sacrifice is the ticket to acceptance and success. But mental health experts debunk that belief. There's only one person on the planet who can take care of you fully. That's YOU, and that's not selfish. Self-care refers to physical or psychological activities that recharge your batteries and restore your mental and physical well-being. You've probably heard the airplane metaphor, "'If your oxygen mask deploys, put it on before trying to help others around you.' But that wise advice often falls on deaf ears. When was the last time you stepped back from life and spent five minutes or a half hour focused just on you. Not your spouse, kids, coworkers, friends. Just you. Some of us take better care of our cars than ourselves. 'International Self-Care Day reminds us that even small acts—like meditation, deep breathing or unplugging—can help us reconnect with ourselves. It's how we stay grounded and present which allows us to hear our intuition more clearly,' says Gaia CEO Kiersten Medvedich. 'At Gaia, we believe that when people prioritize their well-being, it creates a ripple effect, leading to a more conscious, compassionate world.' When we take time out to rest and relax, we're more engaged and productive—even more effective at work tasks. But that's a hard sell to people under the gun with career demands and deadlines. One of the most common refrains is, 'I can't afford to take 20 or 30 minutes to meditate or exercise when I could use that time to meet a deadline.' That excuse no longer holds water because we have simple solutions to de-stress, prevent burnout and keep our careers afloat. Self-care—rest, relaxation or meditation—is no longer a luxury; it's a necessity. Studies show that people who practice self-care are healthier, happier, have longer career trajectories and longer lives. Self-care reduces work stress and fuels job engagement and performance. Self-affirmations, one type of self-care, serve as 'cognitive expanders,' allowing you to talk to yourself the way you might speak to someone you care about so that the self-judgment voice isn't the only story you tell yourself. How To Honor Yourself On International Self-Care Day Self-care has many faces. It can be as simple as micro self-care-a five-minute microbreak or more extended like radical self-care--a full day of wellness practices at home, a week-long retreat where you focus on yourself or a way of being in the world. There are 1440 minutes in one day. Take just five minutes out of the day to indulge yourself in a self-care exercise. Or try one of these simple activities for an hour or less. 1. Turn your bathroom into a spa for an hour. Put candles around the room and soak in a warm bath with soft music. Dry off with an oversized towel. 2. Use soothing textures such as cushioned slippers, cozy blankets or a comfy velvety throw. 3. Introduce calming smells such as scented candles or simmering potpourri into your space. 4. Immerse yourself in a good book. 5. Walk barefoot in a summer rain shower. 6. Meditate or go to a yoga class or exercise class. There are many ways to practice mindfulness meditation that you can find here. 7. Take a short nature walk without headphones and imbibe the surroundings. 8. Engage in a fun hobby or craft. 9. Sit by a warm fire and watch the flames. 10. Name three objects you can see around you for one minute, listen to sounds around you for one minute and feel the texture of three things for one minute. If you're at a total loss and want to go whole-hog, consider a full day at-home retreat. The team at Gaia put together an hour-by-hour, at-home wellness retreat for you to indulge in self-care on July 23rd or any day if you miss the official one. Anyone can create a one-day sanctuary at home that costs nothing but transforms everything. 8:55 AM - Phone Detox Print out this itinerary and then disconnect completely from your phone. 9:00 - 9:30 AM: Gratitude & Intention Setting Begin by creating a sacred space in your home. Light a candle and begin by listing five things you're grateful for and write three intentions for the day in a journal. Putting pen to paper transforms thoughts into powerful commitments. 9:30 - 10:30 AM: Energizing Yoga Flow Move your body, release stuck energy and get out of your head. Visit Gaia's yoga collection to explore classes of all skill levels including vinyasa, restorative, kundalini and hatha. 10:30 - 11:00 AM - Mindful Journaling Journaling while on a post-yoga high can lead to terrific insights and downloads. Follow this prompt: What am I calling into my life? Then try stream-of-consciousness writing for 30 minutes, letting whatever comes to mind flow onto the page without judgment. 11:00 - 12:00 PM - Nature Connection & Grounding Step outside and connect with the natural world whether that is a beach, hike or a small mindful walk. Practice "earthing" by removing your shoes and connecting directly with the earth. 12:00 - 1:00 PM: Mindful Meal Preparation & Eating Prepare a nourishing lunch using whole, unprocessed ingredients. Focus on colorful vegetables, healthy fats and lean proteins. Eat slowly and mindfully, savoring each bite. Simple Suggestions: 1:00 - 2:00 PM - Breathwork & Meditation Unprocessed emotions and trauma often get trapped in the body. Conscious connected breathing can help surface and release these blockages. As oxygen floods the system, people may experience emotional breakthroughs or physical sensations linked to healing. Visit Gaia's breakwork collection. 2:00 - 3:00 - Snack, Rest and Hydrate The breathwork munchies are real. Eat a healthy snack such as fresh fruit with nut butter or chia pudding. Drink water and be gentle with yourself, especially if you just released emotions. 3:00 - 3:30 PM - Manifestation & Visualization Practice Find a quiet space and spend time visualizing your goals and dreams as if they've already manifested. Feel the emotions of having achieved what you desire. Write down your manifestations in present tense: "I am..." rather than 'I will be...' 3:30 - 4:30: Sound Healing & Vibrational Therapy The tones and vibrations from sound bowls help slow the brainwaves from active (beta) to more relaxed (alpha, theta or delta) states. This induces a meditative, parasympathetic state—activating your body's natural healing processes and reducing cortisol (stress hormone) levels. 4:30 - 5:00 PM - Closing Ceremony & Integration Light a candle, return to your journal and reflect on your day. What insights emerged? What felt most nourishing? What would you like to incorporate into your daily routine? Beyond International Self-Care Day Gaia's experts say that every element in their retreat day can be incorporated into your daily life. They suggest that you consider adopting one or two practices as regular habits. 'Remember, the most expensive retreat in the world can't give you what you already possess: the power to nurture, heal and transform yourself,' they remind us. 'This International Self-Care Day, give yourself the gift of presence, attention and love. Your mind, body and spirit will thank you.'
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
North Shore Rescue brings in helicopter to assist injured teen
An injured hiker needed some help from above after hurting her leg on a steep trail in the West Vancouver backcountry Sunday afternoon. North Shore Rescue received a call just before noon Sunday from B.C. Ambulance reporting a 15-year-old teenager sprained her left ankle after a slip on a large rock hiking up to St. Mark's Summit along the Howe Sound Crest Trail in Cypress Provincial Park. Volunteers used a Talon helicopter to find the teen on the trail, where she was stranded with her mother and relatives. 'It was sore enough that she wasn't able to walk on it, so it's best not to aggravate it,' said search manager Don Jardine. 'If you're feeling that much pain, it's better to call for help.' After rescue crews found the injured hiker, two volunteers hoisted down to place her into the aircraft. From there, crews flew to the search and rescue team's Capilano Gate station so an ambulance could take her to Lions Gate Hospital. St. Mark's Summit is one of the viewpoints along the Howe Sound Trail, a 26-kilometre hike spanning from Cypress Bowl to Porteau Cove above the Sea to Sky Highway. 'It's easy to have a slip, it's fairly steep,' Jardine said. 'There's still a little bit of snow in places, and because it's melting, there's a bit of mud. There's lots of slippery roots and rocks.' In a social media post , the search and rescue team said Sunday's call highlights how quickly plans can change in the backcountry. Jardine urged people to be careful with their footing while hiking, going with a group and bringing equipment like hiking poles. 'I find hiking poles are really advantageous because you're getting four points of contact rather than just two, and if you do slip, they can stop you from twisting your ankle,' he said. 'It's a popular hike, there are a lot of people going there and it can get quite hot in the summer,' Jardine added. 'So go early and bring lots of water.' North Shore Rescue also shared in the post other recent calls they have responded to, including a tourist stuck near Eagle Bluffs after running out of water and trying to navigate steep terrain with a phone map, a solo hiker who slipped along the BCMC Trail on Grouse Mountain , a helicopter hoist operation for four teenagers on Mount Fromme who become stranded in steep terrain after leaving the trail trying to descend to Mountain Highway, and a fatal motor vehicle crash near Norrish Creek with an overnight helicopter search . After the recent calls, the search and rescue team offered a number of safety tips such as using backcountry specific apps like Gaia or AllTrails and downloading the map ahead of time, as Google Maps is not always reliable in remote terrain. Also if a hiker leaves the trail, do not keep heading downhill, but return to known ground if safe. Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Cohesity Gaia integrates with Microsoft 365 Copilot
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Cohesity, the leader in AI-powered data security, today announced the availability of its Cohesity Gaia integration with Microsoft 365 Copilot. The integration allows knowledge workers across an organization to tap into Cohesity backup data directly from the Microsoft 365 Copilot interface to gain insights and inform better business decisions. 'This integration marks a major leap forward in how enterprises can transform dormant data into strategic intelligence,' said Johnny Karam, Managing Director and VP, International Emerging Region, Cohesity. 'By giving users secure, AI-driven access to legacy data directly within Microsoft 365 Copilot, we are turning backup into a real-time business asset. In the UAE, where visionary initiatives like the Digital Government Strategy and the National AI Strategy 2031 are reshaping public and private sector performance, this capability empowers organisations to lead with data, act faster and stay ahead of evolving demands.' A first-to-market innovation for unlocking the potential of backup data, Cohesity Gaia combines generative AI, large language models, and retrieval augmented generation techniques. As part of the integration with Microsoft 365 Copilot, users can simply enter conversational questions via their Microsoft 365 Copilot interface. Cohesity Gaia searches across vast amounts of backup data effortlessly, pinpoints critical information quickly, and surfaces actionable information for any department or job function. Granular, role-based access controls limit responses to align with user permissions, protecting sensitive data. 'Generative AI has created a tipping point for enterprise AI deployments. The next phase of this journey will involve more AI-to-AI communications and expectations for transformative business outcomes,' said Chantrelle Nielsen, group product manager, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft. 'Microsoft 365 Copilot integration with Cohesity reflects this progression, giving enterprises more ways to take advantage of AI from the convenience of a single interface with a consistent user experience.' 'Cohesity and Microsoft continue to build on their partnership, working together to safeguard data and strengthen organizations' cyber resilience. This integration extends the value proposition even further to bring new benefits by instantly putting high-quality backup data at the fingertips of users across the enterprise,' said Jared Crowley, senior director of Security & Software Partners, SHI International Corp. 'The end result is faster, better decision making and fresh opportunities for maximizing customers' investments in Cohesity and Microsoft.' Cohesity Gaia is a subscription-based service. Access to Cohesity Gaia capabilities within the Microsoft 365 Copilot is currently available at no additional cost for subscribers of both Cohesity Gaia and Microsoft 365 Copilot. For more on the integration and key benefits, visit the Cohesity blog and tune into the Cohesity Tech Insights podcast episode 'Unlocking AI powered insights with Agents and Frontier Models.' About Cohesity Cohesity is the leader in AI-powered data security. Over 13,600 enterprise customers, including over 85 of the Fortune 100 and nearly 70% of the Global 500, rely on Cohesity to strengthen their resilience while providing Gen AI insights into their vast amounts of data. Formed from the combination of Cohesity with Veritas' enterprise data protection business, the company's solutions secure and protect data on-premises, in the cloud, and at the edge. Backed by NVIDIA, IBM, HPE, Cisco, AWS, Google Cloud, and others, Cohesity is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA, with offices around the globe.
DW
4 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Germany updates: Bundestag a 'prime' target for hackers – DW – 07/20/2025
Bundestag President Julia Klöckner says Germany's lower house of parliament is consistently under attack by hackers. Bundestag President Julia Klöckner says Germany's lower house of parliament is under constant cyberattack. On Sunday, she called for beefed up cyber defenses as well as expanded rights for parliamentary police when screening visitors. In other news, Germany's Red Cross warns that the population is lacking in people with skills to deal with major emergencies.A female brown bear, known as JJ4 or Gaia, that killed a jogger in Italy in 2023 has been relocated to a wildlife sanctuary in Germany. The move follows legal battles and protests, after the bear — originally set to be euthanized — became the center of a debate over human-wildlife conflict. Read more about the story here. Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, speaking with German press agency DPA, called for increased defensive capabilities at the country's parliament, saying it is under constant attack. "We are recording numerous hacker attacks… the Bundestag is a prime target," said Klöckner, whose position as president of the body is similar to that of the speaker in many other countries. "We will have to boost our capacity to resist against cyberattacks," she said in remarks to be published Sunday. "If the German Bundestag were to be shutdown during the reading of a bill or a vote, for example, and deadlines could not be met… that would be a triumph for hackers," said Klöckner. "Defending ourselves against this has to do with the stabilization and resilience of our democracy," not only the protection of the parliament. The last overhaul of the system was prompted by a May 2015 cyberattack in which the computers of numerous parliamentarians — and even Chancellor Angela Merkel — were infected with spyware. Five years later, Merkel announced that an investigation had turned up "hard evidence" of Russian involvement. Russia was also accused of being behind a 2023 cyberattack on the email accounts of then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD). It remains unknown who was behind a 2024 cyberattack on the headquarters of Klöckner's own Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Klöckner has also called for a new parliamentary police law to better protect the Bundestag and politicians against potential physical attacks — specifically when it comes to ID checks among visitors to the popular institution. Currently, says Klöckner, domestic security services cannot share information about an individual visitor's criminal records or threat potential with Bundestag police, a situation she blasted as "absurd." Germany's Bundestag is the most-visited parliament in the world according to Klöckner, with more than 2 million citizens attending sessions each year. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has warned the United States against escalating the tariff war with the European Union (EU). "This would lead to everything becoming more expensive for consumers in the USA," he told the newspaper. "The European Union is not defenseless." Wadephul insisted that EU member states were standing together and that he didn't fear an end to the resistance. "Indeed, there are states which are demanding more stringency and toughness than Germany thinks is right," he said. Wadephul reiterated the German government's belief that "the complete dismantling of all tariffs" is the preferred approach, and that "we can reach a positive agreement with the USA through negotiation." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video He said that Chancellor Friedrich Merz is heavily involved in the discussions, saying: "Germans can count on the fact that there is a chancellor standing up for our interests and European interests in Washington." After the new German government resumed deportations to Afghanistan this week, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has floated a similar approach for Syria – despite the current unrest in the war-torn country. "It's possible that, in future, Syrians who have committed criminal offenses [could be] deported," he told the newspaper. "I think that's possible in principle – provided the country develops in [the right] direction." Southern Syria has been rocked by violence again this week, with the new Islamist-led regime in Damascus struggling to prevent clashes between Druze and Bedouin factions in Sweida and powerless to stop Israeli intervention. Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed. "We are watching Syria with concern," said Wadephul, calling on the interim government under Ahmed al-Sharaa to ensure that all sections of the population and all religious groups can co-exist. "No-one should have to fear for life and limb," he said. "But as it stands, we are of the opinion that we have to give this interim government a chance." Germany spectacularly reached the semi-final of the Women's Euro 2025 on Saturday night, beating France 6-5 on penalties despite having been reduced to ten players for the majority of the evening. Kathrin Hendrich was sent off in the 13th minute for tugging on an opponent's hair in the penalty area, after which Grace Geyoro gave France the lead from the penalty spot. But Sjoeke Nüsken headed Germany level just nine minutes later. What followed was 100 minutes of defensive attrition from Germany to somehow reach extra-time and then penalties, where goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger was the heroine. Germany will face Spain in the semifinal on Wednesday. The other semifinal sees defending champions England play Italy. Read DW's full match report here. German police on Saturday shot dead a man who had fired shots at passersby and neighboring buildings in the small town of Leonberg, just west of the city of Stuttgart in the southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg. Local police and state prosecutors said the 44-year-old German man had indiscriminately fired shots from the second floor of his house, fortunately injuring nobody. When armed police entered his apartment, he reportedly threatened officers with his weapon and was subsequently shot. Police secured the weapon which turned out to be a non-lethal gas pistol. Whether or not this was the weapon used to fire the shots from the house was not immediately clear. The state criminal police office (LKA) is also investigating the police's use of firearms in the operation. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Saturday honored the Central Council of Jews in Germany for its role in society on the 75th anniversary of its founding. "Jewish life is a part of us," wrote Merz on the messaging platform X, adding that the organization reminds everyone in the country of something "that should be obvious: Germany must be a safe space for Jews." Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also honored the day, saying that he was "deeply thankful" that the organization's first leaders had determined to "rebuild Jewish life in Germany in the aftermath of the Shoah ." Steinmeier said that beyond not letting Germany forget the crimes of its Nazi past and fighting antisemitism, the Central Council of Jews in Germany served as "an important driving force behind the democratic development of German society after 1945." The institution, which functions as Germany's main political, societal and religious representative for Jews in the country, was founded on July 19, 1950, in Frankfurt — just five years after the end of World War II and the industrial-scale murder of more than six million European Jews at the hands of Germany's Nazi dictatorship. Today the council comprises some 105 communities and associations, and 100.000 individual view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A majority of Germans have opposed banning the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), according to a new poll. The survey by the Allensbach Institute, published Saturday by , found that 52% of respondents reject a ban on the party, while 27% support it. In eastern Germany, two-thirds of those surveyed said they were against such a move. According to the researchers, one key reason is that many Germans know AfD supporters personally. In the West, 67% said they had AfD sympathizers in their social circles; in the East, that figure rose to 88%. While 54% of respondents described the AfD as far-right, only 5% viewed their acquaintances who back the party in the same way. Another factor behind the opposition to a ban is mistrust toward the parties advocating it. Many respondents suspect those parties are mainly trying to eliminate a political rival that has grown too strong. The idea of a ban is divisive within Germany's governing coalition. The center-left Social Democratic Party voted unanimously at its June 29 party congress to prepare proceedings and called for a federal-state working group. The center-right Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union has pushed back, citing steep legal hurdles and urging a focus on political argument. Two parties have been banned in (West) Germany, an openly neo-Nazi party in 1952 and the Communist Party (KPD) in 1956. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Around half of eligible voters in Germany have said they agree with the federal government's view that Russia poses a danger to the country, according to a new YouGov poll for Germany's DPA news agency. The survey found that 13% see a very serious military threat from Moscow, while 36% consider it a significant one. By contrast, 30% say Russia poses only a minor threat, and 14% see no threat at all. The divide is sharp along political party lines. Among supporters of the conservative CDU/CSU bloc, center-left Social Democrats, and the Greens, 58–62% view Russia as a major or very serious threat. About one-third of these party groups see little or no danger. The picture flips among far-right Alternative for Germany voters, where 65% say there is little or no military threat from Russia, while 29% see one. Among supporters of the populist left Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, only 33% see a threat, while 51% do not. Supporters of the socialist Left party are evenly split — 48% see a threat, 47% do not. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video German consumers are paying more for meat — and prices are still climbing this summer. And while retail costs rise, producers of Germany's favorite meat, pork, face falling returns. According to the Agricultural Market Information Company (AMI) in Bonn, average discount supermarket prices for a 400-gram pack of minute steaks increased by 30 cents in early July, from €3.49 to €3.79 ($4.06 to $4.41). The price for coarse pork sausages rose from €2.59 to €2.89, and a 550-gram pack of chicken schnitzel went up 30 cents to €6.26. Meat and meat product prices have steadily risen in recent years. The Federal Statistical Office reports that, by June, they were on average 31.7% higher than in 2020. Poultry had risen by more than 45%, and minced beef by over 68%. The German Meat Industry Association cites several causes: general inflation, rising feed costs, wage increases, and energy policy impacts. Beef has become scarcer in Germany. According to the industry association, more farms are ending cattle production, citing regulatory pressure and uncertainty about future farming standards. The result has been shrinking herds. Meanwhile, poultry consumption is rising. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video German media have begun scrutinizing the government's latest deportation flights to Afghanistan, questioning whether the men truly fit the label of dangerous criminals. One of the 81 men deported on Friday was Haroon I., 27, who was escorted from a facility in Pforzheim under heavy police presence late on Thursday. Footage of the scene, obtained by , shows the emotional moment. The report said the man was a convicted cannabis dealer who had already served his sentence. People close to him say he had been rebuilding his life and was well on his way to integrating into German society. said that Haroon had strong German, was living with his partner, a German woman, had a job and was a member of his community. He also had little connection to Afghanistan with most of his family having left the country. The convoy was guarded by police in balaclavas who kept back friends and supporters. Pforzheim was one of the departure points for the new round of deportations to Afghanistan ordered by Germany's centrist coalition. A plane carrying the men left Leipzig airport early on Friday. The government has said it is delivering on a campaign pledge to deport people to Afghanistan and Syria, starting with criminals and people posing a perceived risk. After the deportations, the United Nations said no one should be returned to Afghanistan, regardless of their legal status. A fireworks display at the Düsseldorf Rheinkirmes — a type of town fair — has left 19 people injured, including four seriously. Emergency services confirmed the injuries late Friday after fireworks reportedly exploded unusually close to the ground. According to police, at least one child was among the injured. Eyewitnesses told German public broadcaster WDR that some rockets flew sideways or detonated low, with a few even landing in the Rhine River. One video from across the river shows explosions lighting up both the sky and ground at the same time. "I was at the fair watching the fireworks," said one witness. "Some rockets flew surprisingly low and exploded close to people. I wondered if that wasn't too near the crowd." Fire officials believe some rockets may have veered off course, with one misfiring directly into the crowd. Organizers initially kept the fair running to avoid panic but ended festivities early around 10:45 p.m. (2045 GMT). The event had been scheduled to continue into the early morning. The Rheinkirmes fair, the biggest to take place on the river, is rooted in an annual celebration of the city's patron saint Apollinaris. It started on July 11 and is set to end on Sunday. Germany has been falling short on preparing its population for major emergencies, according to the German Red Cross (DRK). Millions of people need training in first aid and self-reliance, said Heike Spieker, head of the DRK's National Relief Society. "To build these skills sustainably, four million people would need to be trained," she said. That level of preparedness would ensure people could help themselves and others during a crisis. The courses, supported by federal funding and offered by aid groups, go beyond first aid. According to the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, they cover how to act when power goes out or flooding follows heavy rain. To reach a "reasonable level" within five years, around 800,000 people would need training each year, Spieker said. "In reality, current funding covers an average of fewer than 100,000 participants per year," she added. She also criticized the government's current budget plans, saying they are "absolutely insufficient and contradict the political promises to strengthen civil protection." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video from the DW newsroom in sunny Bonn on the Rhine River. You join us as news comes in of a mishap at what was supposed to be a dazzling event at the Düsseldorf Rheinkirmes on Friday night, when a fireworks display went wrong. Emergency services said the rockets appeared to explode far too close to the ground, and 19 people were injured. According to police, at least one child was among those hurt. Follow along for the latest on what Germany is talking about on Saturday, July 19.
