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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Iran is believed to have weaponized pharmaceutical agents to kill or incapacitate.</li><li>These chemical weapons affect a victim's central nervous system.</li></ul>Iran has developed <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nerve-agents-chemical-weapons-how-they-work-2018-3">chemical weapons</a> based on synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, warns a US expert, powerful agents that could incapacitate soldiers or civilians when added to grenades or artillery.Pharmaceutical-based agents, or PBA, are essentially weaponized medicines that incapacitate or kill their victims depending on the exposure. Iran may have given PBA to its proxies such as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-naim-qassem-longtime-deputy-now-leading-hezbollah-2024-10">Hezbollah</a>, which could use them to kidnap Israeli troops and civilians."At a time of growing regional instability in the Middle East, largely the result of the militancy of Iranian proxies, the threats posed by Iran's weaponized PBA program can no longer be overlooked," wrote Matthew Levitt in an <a target="_blank" href="https://ctc.westpoint.edu/tehrans-tactical-knockout-weaponized-pharmaceutical-based-agents/">article</a> for the Combatting Terrorism Center at West Point.The U.S. Government Accountability Office defines PBAs as "chemicals based on pharmaceutical compounds, which may or may not have legitimate medical uses, and can cause severe illness or death when misused." They include opioids such as fentanyl and tranquilizers for animals.These drugs affect a victim's central nervous system. "Once inhaled, these agents cause victims to lose full consciousness and enable the forces deploying them to advance quickly and quietly and/or take captive the unconscious victims," Levitt wrote.Iran was a victim of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-uses-chemical-weapons-against-ukraine-cause-panic-war-report-2024-4">chemical warfare</a> during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, when Iraqi chemical attacks — including <a target="_blank" href="https://thebulletin.org/2024/07/iraq-once-devasted-iran-with-chemical-weapons-as-the-world-stood-by-governments-still-struggle-to-respond-to-chemical-warfare/">nerve gases</a> such as Sarin, and mustard gas — contributed to as many as 1 million Iranian casualties. But Iran employed its own mustard gas on a few occasions during the war. Israel believes Iran used PBAs against rebels in the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/drones-usher-in-a-brutal-new-phase-syrian-civil-war-2024-3">Syrian Civil War</a>, while there are reports that pro-Iranian militias in Iraq may have unleashed them against anti-government protestors."The problem is that Iran is right when they said they've been victims of chemical weapons in terrible ways during the Iran-Iraq war," Levitt, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute think tank, told Business Insider. "But the reality is they themselves have been using these as well."The US and its allies have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.elysee.fr/admin/upload/default/0001/05/2ffa826926cd72354b90a05f7de765bfcc9908b6.pdf">warned</a> for years that Iran is developing pharmaceutical-based weapons in breach of the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, which bans the manufacture and use of "toxic chemicals," defined as "chemical action on life processes [that] can cause death, temporary incapacitation or permanent harm to humans or animals." Treaty signatories — including Iran — are obligated to destroy existing stockpiles.Still, evidence suggests Iran is pursuing PBAs. "In 2014, Iran's Chemistry Department of IHU [Imam Hossein University] sought kilogram quantities of medetomidine — a [veterinary] sedative it has researched as an aerosolized incapacitant — from Chinese exporters, according to a 2023 US State Department's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.state.gov/2023-condition-10c-annual-report-on-compliance-with-the-chemical-weapons-convention-cwc/">report</a>. "The Chemistry Department has little history of veterinary or even medical research, and the quantities sought (over 10,000 effective doses) were inconsistent with the reported end use of research."In September 2023, Iranian anti-government hackers "posted confidential documents detailing an Iranian military university's development of grenades meant to disseminate medetomidine," the State Department said.Of particular concern were references in Iranian literature to the 2002 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.history.com/news/opioid-chemical-weapons-moscow-theater-hostage-crisis">Dubrovka incident</a>, when Russian security forces pumped pharmaceutical-based gas — probably fentanyl or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2018-07/hq092216_attach.pdf">carfentanyl</a>, another synthetic opioid vastly more potent — into a crowded Moscow theater to subdue Chechen rebels who had taken almost a thousand hostages. Commandos then stormed the building and killed the incapacitated rebels — but the gas also killed more than 130 hostages.Yet restricting PBAs is difficult because they overlap with products used for legitimate law enforcement and medical purposes. For example, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.vox.com/2020/6/3/21277995/police-tear-gas-protests-history-effects-violence">tear gas</a> has been used by law enforcement as a riot control agent since the First World War, while US troops used it in the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thenmusa.org/articles/tunnel-rats-of-the-vietnam-war/">Vietnam War</a> to smoke out enemy tunnels. Tear gas is still legal when employed for riot control, but not as a battlefield weapon.Stopping nations from manufacturing PBAs is " very, very difficult, which is why you've seen such a focus on diplomatic efforts, sanctions and some law enforcement actions," said Levitt.Iranian PBAs are a particular problem if Tehran has supplied them to proxies such as Hezbollah. "Deploying weapons produced with dual-use items, and then providing said weapons to proxies, provides Iran with multiple layers of cover and reasonable deniability for having done so at all," the CTC article noted.Israel feared that Hezbollah would use PBA weapons as part of an alleged plan to seize the Galilee region of northern Israel and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gaza-israels-special-forces-rescue-woman-on-a-motorbike-hostage-and-3-others-2024-6">kidnap Israeli citizens</a>. "Maybe you just use them to incapacitate the border guards and reach the now unprotected civilians," Levitt said. "Or, you actually target and incapacitate the soldiers so you can kidnap or capture them."Israel's recent military <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-launches-ground-offensive-into-lebanon-destroy-hezbollah-targets-2024-9">offensives in Lebanon</a> have badly hurt Hezbollah, including its huge arsenal of missiles. But PBAs can be added to hand grenades and mortar shells, of which Hezbollah still has ample stocks. And there remains a possibility that US forces could clash with Iran and its allies and encounter pharmaceutical-based agents. (The US, in contrast, completed the destruction of its chemical weapons in 2023.)However, Levitt emphasizes that PBAs are not in the same league as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rangers-are-training-to-neutralize-enemy-nuclear-sites-2024-11">weapons of mass destruction</a> such as nerve gas, which is potent enough to kill widely across exposure areas. "This is not a strategic threat. It is a tactical weapon."Nonetheless, chemical weapons do have a frightening aura, even if fentanyl gas is nowhere near as deadly as nerve gas. "I think that many, many people would see it that way because you're talking about chemical weapons," Levitt said.Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds an MA in political science from Rutgers Univ. Follow him on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.twitter.com/@mipeck1">Twitter</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mipeck/">LinkedIn</a>.

Iran has developed fentanyl-based chemical weapons

<ul class="summary-list"><li>With the election ending this week, tensions are running high and kids are picking up on that. </li><li>One way to address election anxiety is to talk about the political system and encourage long-term engagement.</li></ul>The 2024 <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kamala-harris-donald-trump-swing-states-sun-belt-polls-2024-11">presidential election is ending in a couple of days</a>. Although the weeks preceding an election are always tense, the stakes are especially high this year.As a result, people on b<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/election-betting-markets-kamala-harris-gains-donald-trump-2024-11">oth sides of the political aisle</a> are extra invested in this year's election. Kids are picking up on all of that. "I recommend having age-appropriate conversations with children about politics; children will hear about things via various technological platforms and friends, and consequently, it is important for them to speak openly with their parents," said <a href="https://www.communitypsychiatry.com/providers/leela-magavi-m-d/">Leela Magavi</a>, MD, a psychologist in California. Kids as young as 3 can <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/election-civil-unrest-risk-kamala-harris-donald-trump-2024-11">pick up on political divides</a>, Magavi says, so it's important to facilitate open conversation. Here are five ways to have productive and kid-friendly conversations about politics and the election. <h2>Teach them about the government</h2>The government and the election cycle can be confusing, so it's empowering to give kids an age-appropriate breakdown of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-kamala-harris-election-biggest-moments-photos-2024-10">how American democracy works</a>. "We can talk about how we can make a difference in government, both during and after the election," said Shannon Brescher Shea, author of<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/625190/growing-sustainable-together-by-shannon-brescher-shea/"> "Growing Sustainable Together: Practical Resources for Raising Kind, Engaged, Resilient Children</a>."Brescher Shea teaches her own sons, 4 and 7, how to be engaged citizens by writing to lawmakers, attending rallies, and, of course, thinking about voting. <h2>Use books to start conversations</h2>In addition to encouraging their own civil engagement, Brescher Shea uses books to talk to her boys about how individuals — including kids — can make a difference in politics. Here are three she recommends:<ul><li><a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?amazonTrackingID=bi-auto-74146-20&amp;h=85979aecae05027bf3fd76eb25de2d03fcefcb458b682ebff05d548c32268dc9&amp;postID=5f91dc37f348c3675f6d1345&amp;postSlug=how-to-talk-to-kids-about-the-us-presidential-election-2020-10&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSofia-Valdez-Future-Prez-Questioneers%2Fdp%2F141973704X">"Sofia Valdez, Future Prez"</a>, by Andrea Beaty</li><li><a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?amazonTrackingID=bi-auto-74146-20&amp;h=8513cfb28203bcfcb33b8c40a9ef3908a1aa0112c70edfa7b00f57001494dd53&amp;postID=5f91dc37f348c3675f6d1345&amp;postSlug=how-to-talk-to-kids-about-the-us-presidential-election-2020-10&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSpring-After-Inspired-Environmental-Movement%2Fdp%2F1626728194%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1%3Fdchild%3D1%26keywords%3Dspring%2Bafter%2Bspring%26qid%3D1603301885%26s%3Dbooks%26sr%3D1-1">"Spring After Spring"</a> by Stephanie Ross Sisson</li><li><a href="https://affiliate.insider.com?amazonTrackingID=bi-auto-74146-20&amp;h=d65409acabd7bbed29820017205c755d38ab0d6d809be1497f8c597b85e7b3a7&amp;postID=5f91dc37f348c3675f6d1345&amp;postSlug=how-to-talk-to-kids-about-the-us-presidential-election-2020-10&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FAre-Water-Protectors-Carole-Lindstrom%2Fdp%2F1250203554%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1%3Fdchild%3D1%26keywords%3DWe%2BAre%2BWater%2BProtectors%26qid%3D1603301934%26s%3Dbooks%26sr%3D1-1">"We Are The Water Protectors"</a> by Carole Lindstrom</li></ul><h2>Give kids context by making it personal</h2>When<a href="http://lydiaelle.com"> Lydia Elle</a> talks with her 10-year-old daughter, she <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-trump-harris-landslide-election-anxiety-defense-mechanism-2024-11">focuses less on politics</a> and more on the world that her daughter wants to live in. "It's not a matter of right or wrong for a political party, but what best aligns with the things she wants to see happen in the world," Elle said.This is important to Elle as a Black mother who says that she sees politics as personal. "When we discuss issues like healthcare or equal rights, it is not about each side's 'views,' but I ask her to make a decision about what she would support if these issues were about her best friend," Elle said. <h2>Make room for their emotions and yours</h2>Elle is an expert on wholeness parenting — embracing all the emotions that come with being a parent in today's political atmosphere. "I give way to the full range of emotions surrounding [my daughter] navigating and digesting the current events," she said. Removing the emotions threatens to separate political decisions from real life, which just isn't realistic, Elle said. "When topics are politicized, it allows us to be removed from the indictment that our choices affect another person's life," she said. "If they do not directly affect our personhood, then we can make light of filling in a bubble on a ballot."<h2>Remain hopeful</h2>Experts say that no matter what happens on November 5th, it's important to keep a positive outlook for kids and empower them to engage with our political system. "When talking to kids about politics, we need to be realistic without being depressing," said Brescher Shea. "We don't want to burden them with a sense of hopelessness."Touching on the ways that engagement can make a difference — on the local, state, or federal level — can help kids keep their chins up. It's important that they know political engagement is about more than just the pressure cooker in the weeks leading up to a general election. "It's important to make sure that we don't place all of our hopes and dreams on the election," Brescher Shea said. "Teaching kids that activism is a lifelong responsibility and a marathon, not a sprint, will help them maintain that critical hopefulness through adulthood."

Kids can pick up on parents' stress about the election. Here's how to talk to them about it.

Andrew Webber's forever war 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Trump's arguments for overturning his $454M civil fraud verdict received a warm reception Thursday.</li><li>Appellate judges questioned the New York AG's 'mission creep' and lack of 'guardrails' in the case.</li></ul>Lawyers for Donald Trump enjoyed a warm reception in a Manhattan appellate courtroom on Thursday as they argued for the overturning of a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-massive-ny-fraud-fine-has-ballooned-during-appeal-2024-9">massive $454 million civil fraud verdict</a> won this year by the New York Attorney General's Office.During a brief but rapid-fire dialogue, four of the five justices on the panel expressed support of Trump's arguments for overturning, or at least modifying, the costly verdict against the former president and his New York-based real-estate and golf-resort empire.One justice went so far as to wonder aloud if the Trump fraud case represents "mission creep," calling into question the AG's use of one of the country's toughest anti-fraud laws."The immense penalty in this case is troubling," that judge, Justice Peter H. Moulton, also said, speaking toward the end of Thursday's hearing in an intermediate-level state appellate court.A second justice suggested the state's present and future attorneys general need firmer "guardrails" in pursuing fraud cases.The AG herself, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/letitia-james-takes-verdict-victory-lap-calls-trumps-ego-staggering-2024-2">Letitia James,</a> was not mentioned by name during a tense 45 minutes of arguments. But the tone of much of the judges' questioning suggested most could be open to at least trimming the scope of James' landmark case.The justices also suggested the fraud case's underlying law — New York's AG-empowering <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link" href="https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/EXC/63">Executive Law 63(12)</a> — needed an overhaul.The law, approved by state lawmakers in 1956, lets attorneys general sue anyone who "shall engage in repeated fraudulent or illegal acts " and recover the proceeds of that fraud to "protect honesty and integrity" in the marketplace.In Trump's case, the law empowered James to successfully sue for what a trial-level Manhattan judge eventually agreed was Trump's decade of billion-dollar exaggerations in the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-has-stopped-issuing-net-worth-statements-2024-7">annual financial statements</a> used to pocket more than $400 million in loans and profits."You hear, underneath all these questions, the question of mission creep," Moulton said at one point, as he wondered aloud if there needs to be "some limitation on what the attorney general can do in interfering in these private transactions.""Has 63(12) morphed into something that it was not meant to do?" he asked."You know the history of this statute," Justice John Higgitt said at another point, breaking into arguments by an attorney for James, Judith Vale, a deputy solicitor general."The common thread was the AG needs greater powers, as the people's lawyer, to protect consumers, civil rights, and the environment," Higgitt continued."And so, again, with that sort of historical backdrop to this law, how do we draw a line, or at least put up some guardrails, to know when the AG is operating well within her admittedly broad sphere of 63(12), and when she is going into an area that wasn't intended for her jurisdiction?" he added.Vale responded that the law was designed to protect New Yorkers from the kind of fraud and deceptions that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/financial-crisis-scariest-moments-2015-9">brought down Lehman Brothers</a> in the financial crisis of 2008."In an ideal world," Vale answered, "the attorney general or somebody else would have gone in and stopped that fraud and illegality" before the public suffered.But where do you draw the line, a fourth justice, Dianne T. Renwick, asked, if there is no imminent risk to the public?Trump attorney D. John Sauer has made this line drawing a central point of his appeal.The appeal argues that James' fraud case wrongly interfered in the decisions of "sophisticated" banks that had been happy to loan Trump money regardless of any exaggerations. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/deutsche-bank-trump-haircut-trial-2023-10">Deutsche Bank relied on Trump's financial statements</a> in loaning him $400 million to develop his Chicago skyscraper, his Washington, DC hotel, and his Miami golf resort."We have a situation where there were no victims," said Sauer, who has been Trump's go-to appellate lawyer.Earlier this month, Sauer argued for the overturning of Trump's 2023 sexual-assault and defamation <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-mimics-harvey-weinstein-arguments-e-jean-carroll-appeal-2024-9">loss to writer E. Jean Carroll</a>, an appeal that has yet to be decided.In April, he successfully argued before the US Supreme Court that former presidents <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/supreme-court-trump-immunity-case-january-6-2024-4">deserve sweeping immunity</a> from prosecution for their official acts. In November, in the Washington, DC, election-interference prosecution, Sauer argued<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/judges-skeptical-trump-effort-revoke-jan-6-case-gag-order-2023-11"> Trump's failed appeal</a> of a gag order barring attacks on potential witnesses.Vale, arguing for the AG, noted the financial institutions were, in fact, victimized. She mentioned <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trumps-accountants-quit-while-preparing-his-and-melanias-taxes-2022-2">Trump's accountants at Mazars USA</a>, and Deutsche Bank, which <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trumps-secret-ugly-breakup-with-deutsche-bank-revealed-2022-10">forced Trump into a "managed exit"</a> from his debts in the aftermath of the AG's initial 2021 fraud revelations."When deceptively hidden risks are injected into the market, that does hurt the counterparties," Vale told the judges."And I will stress, your honor, that this does have harm to the public and the markets," she said of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-fraud-continued-despite-attorney-general-probe-2024-2">Trump's persistent financial frauds</a>.It is unclear when the panel will release a decision; a majority of three justices is needed to reverse or revise the verdict of the trial judge, New York Supreme Court <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trumps-fraud-judge-declines-to-recuse-himself-over-nothingburger-2024-7">Justice Arthur Engoron</a>.

NY appellate judges voice serious doubts about Trump's $454M civil fraud verdict

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The NAACP has warned American Airlines it could caution Black passengers away from the carrier.</li><li>It follows a lawsuit alleging eight Black men were unfairly removed from a flight.</li></ul>A civil rights organization has <a target="_blank" href="https://naacp.org/articles/naacp-calls-american-airlines-respond-pattern-discrimination">warned</a> American Airlines that it could issue an advisory cautioning Black passengers about potential discrimination.The annoucement from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), comes as a result of a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/black-men-sue-american-airlines-discrimination-kicked-off-flight-lawsuit-2024-5">lawsuit filed against American Airlines by three Black men</a> last month.Alvin Jackson, Emmanuel Jean Joseph, and Xavier Veal boarded an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-vs-delta-airlines-domestic-basic-economy-review-2024-6">American Airlines</a> plane in Phoenix in January.The three men — who said they had never met before and weren't seated together — were removed from the plane, along with five other Black men, the lawsuit said.The complaint says an airline representative told the men they were removed from the flight because a someone had complained about an offensive body odor.The body odor complaint came from a white male flight attendant, the lawsuit said.It added that the men were then allowed to reboard the flight, which was delayed for over an hour as a result."Imagine a flight attendant ordering every white person off a plane because of a complaint about one white person. That would never happen. But that is what happened to us. There is no explanation other than the color of our skin," the plaintiffs said in a statement shared with Business Insider.In 2017, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-airlines-naacp-warning-black-passengers-2017-10">NAACP issued a travel warning against American Airlines</a> following several reports of discrimination against Black passengers. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ap-naacp-lifting-travel-advisory-against-american-airlines-2018-7">The warning was lifted the following year</a> after the carrier agreed to terms, including the creation of a diversity, equity, and inclusion advisory council."Amidst the resurgence of attacks on DEI, American Airlines disbanded the panel in 2023," said Derrick Johnson, the president and CEO of the NAACP, in a Tuesday statement."Recent discriminatory actions from company employees prove that there is a dire need for continued accountability and resolution to this clear pattern," he added.Earlier this year, a former judge<a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/first-class-american-airlines-passenger-alleges-racial-discrimination-2024-4"> said she was racially discriminated against</a> by American Airlines as a flight attendant made her use an economy bathroom even though she was stting in first class.Johnson called on American Airlines to bring back the DEI panel and meet with the NAACP to work on a path forward.He added: "Without a swift and decisive response, the NAACP will be forced to reinstate an advisory against the airline."In a statement sent to Business Insider, the company said: "At American, every customer should feel valued and represented and have a positive experience while traveling with us.""We have worked with the NAACP to institute education and training programs to address issues of bias on our aircraft and within our hiring practices to eliminate bias and create a workforce and customer experience that represents the customers we serve."

A civil rights organization may warn Black travelers from using American Airlines after a spate of racial-discrimination claims

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The UK donated old military equipment to Ukraine that was set to be scrapped.</li><li>The Ministry of Defence prioritized older items, like old army boots, according to a NAO report.</li></ul>The UK donated military equipment to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/videos-capture-back-to-back-ukrainian-strikes-on-russian-bridge-2024-9">Ukraine</a> that was so old it would have been thrown away, according to a new <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Investigation-into-military-support-for-Ukraine-1.pdf">report</a> from the National Audit Office (NAO) published on Wednesday.According to the NAO, the UK's Ministry of Defence "prioritized older items" that were "often due to being scrapped or replaced" after <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukrainian-war-anniversary-how-kyiv-business-owner-survives-2023-2">Russia's invasion of Ukraine began</a> in February 2022.For example, in March 2022, the UK donated 17,010 pairs of unused army boots that were "nearing the end of their usable life," the report said.The equipment donated from UK stockpiles between February 2022 and March 2024 was valued at £171.5 million, or around $224.5 million, it added.The report added that the UK has committed to donating £7.8 billion, or around $10.2 billion, to Ukraine's military before March 2025, making it the third largest donor to the country after the US and Germany."As the MoD plans its future support, it must continue to balance the UK's strategic interests with maintaining the UK's own military capabilities," Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said in a statement to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.ft.com/content/f44bf7d0-0895-4f63-9fce-d3de8e686b57?accessToken=zwAGIdSQS36QkdP0S_fQCJVPY9OfztPejmhrVw.MEUCIQCuBtc69Gn0hKR_P_6lusdgAN3mJ9SxyNnzgbKXOxKEAAIgPznGsVmUv0CLhFR80yzeVlG9X6SF-khsT6mzngp0dBY&amp;sharetype=gift&amp;token=4b060483-510e-42f0-8c1a-2b3b45dec5e9">Financial Times</a>."This includes making sure there are appropriate stocks of equipment and sufficient training provision for UK forces," he added."The war has tested our stockpiles, but it's a good thing for us that we have cleared out old kit and can now replace it with new equipment," one unnamed defense official told the FT.The report estimated that the UK will spend £2.5 million, or around $3.2 million, to replace the donated stockpiles.It comes against a backdrop of criticism over Western-supplied military equipment to Ukraine. Ukraine has been receiving military aid from its allies throughout <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-did-russia-invade-ukraine-putin-politics-motive-2023-6">Russia's full-scale invasion, which started in February 2022</a>.But Western aid has often come in fits and starts, as Ukraine's allies debate what and how much to give, leaving soldiers on the front lines struggling with shortages over different periods.In April, a high-ranking military officer, speaking to <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-great-risk-front-line-collapse-war-russia/">Politico</a>, said <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/drone-deep-russia-ukraine-brag-new-620-mile-range-war-2024-4">Ukraine</a> is struggling with weapons from the West because they are no longer a significant match for Russia."Often, we just don't get the weapons systems at the time we need them — they come when they're no longer relevant," the officer said."Every weapon has its own right time. F-16s were needed in 2023; they won't be right for 2024," he said.In the same NAO report, the impact of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-has-training-problems-but-its-better-than-russia-experts-2024-6">military training</a> provided to Ukrainian soldiers from the UK, the Netherlands, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Romania, Kosovo, and Australia was investigated. The various trainings took place in the UK and covered weapon handling, trench fighting, law of armed conflict, urban warfare, live firing practice, and battle inoculation, the report said.According to self-assessments cited by the NAO, around 89% of people who took the training said that they felt better equipped to survive in the war.However, others said some elements could be better targeted toward conditions in Ukraine. For example, they said there was a lack of drone training, which the MoD said was due to "military and civil aviation restrictions."It added that it was "exploring ways to mitigate the shortfall," the report said."All UK forces have access to the relevant training required to be held at readiness to protect the UK and meet our NATO commitments," a MoD spokesperson said in a statement to Business Insider."But we welcome the NAO's report, which recognises that Ukrainian troops are better prepared to defend their country from Russia's illegal invasion thanks to the UK providing training," they added.In July, the global military alliance NATO <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nato-fueling-ukraine-fight-concerns-about-us-politics-2024-7">pledged to continue supporting Ukraine</a> with the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine, or NSATU, a new initiative to coordinate the supply of military aid and training.It comes as future support from the US remains unclear prior to the election. In April, Congress <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-us-aid-kill-russia-momentum-wont-win-it-war-2024-4">approved a $61 billion US aid package</a> to Ukraine which had been held up over opposition from far-right Republicans."Such a large aid package may be the last this year," a former Ukrainian officer who operates the Frontelligence Insight newsletter said in comments cited by the <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.ft.com/content/099e668a-61c8-43c0-87a4-546dc09b73c2">Financial Times</a>."Moreover, there is a fairly high probability that all subsequent aid packages for Ukraine will be much smaller in size," they added.The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Large supplies of military gear Britain sent to Ukraine were 'due to be scrapped or replaced' anyway, report says

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Timothy Piazza was a Penn State sophomore who died in 2017 after being hazed.</li><li>His parents spoke to BI about their son, his death, and how the legal system fails hazing victims.</li></ul>Jim Piazza can pinpoint the moment he knew his critically injured 19-year-old son Timothy would die.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/penn-state-fraternity-pledge-hazing-death-parents-speak-2017-5">Jim and his wife Evelyn</a> were en route to Hershey Medical Center in Pennsylvania, where Timothy had been life-flighted. At the time, all the college sophomore's parents knew was that he'd fallen down the stairs and suffered a brain bleed."In my head, I thought, 'OK, they'll drill a hole, they'll release the pressure on the brain, it'll be OK. If it's a little bit worse, maybe he'll have some speech problems or some gait problems,'" Evelyn told Business Insider. "Never, never in my imagination could I ever come up with his real medical condition."Jim, on the other hand, recalls an eerie moment of prescience earlier that day when he met with a college student for a career talk.The conversation that morning had turned to fraternities, and Jim mentioned to the student, who was in one, that his son Timothy was looking to join Beta Theta Pi, a social fraternity founded in 1839 and known for its "Men of Principle" philosophy. According to Jim, when he found out Timothy attended Penn State University, the student issued an ominous warning."He ended the conversation with, 'At Penn State, they haze pretty hard, and people could die from hazing,'" Jim said. "I didn't think much about it, but then when we were in the car driving to Hershey Medical Center, I said to Evelyn, 'This better not have anything to do with that effing fraternity.' And she said, 'Well, it was the first night of pledging.'""At that moment, I knew my son was going to die," he said. "I just reflected on that conversation earlier in the morning, and I was like, 'That was a sign.'"<h2 id="a9c8b462-6e54-43eb-a9ed-3ee1a1c6646a">Timothy's parents never expected his fate when he left for college</h2><div type="image" title="Timothy Piazza, a young man wearing an orange sleeveless Vols shirt" height="1556" width="2075" msid="112875348" hostid="261" sizebytes="62220"></div>Timothy's parents, who were interviewed for the new A+E series "Houses of Horror: Secrets of College Greek Life," weren't particularly worried when their son told them he wanted to join a fraternity. More than anything, they were a bit surprised at the choice and concerned that it could detract from the rigorous mechanical engineering program he was in.Jim believes that Timothy saw Beta, which was first established at Penn State in 1855 and has chapters on 141 college campuses across North America, as an opportunity to build a community and a network for his future career.Their older son Mike, who was also interviewed for the A+E series, expressed surprise that his younger brother decided to pledge fraternities, mostly because he himself hadn't been involved in Greek life while at Penn State.<div type="image" title="Mike and Tim Piazza" height="1585" width="2113" msid="112875345" hostid="261" sizebytes="76004"></div>According to his parents, Timothy had followed Mike, who was only 18 months older, to Penn State. They recalled that he initially intended to stay closer to home, looking at schools like Lehigh and Rutgers, which weren't as far from the family's home in Lebanon, New Jersey."I think he didn't want to be too far from us. He liked that security," Evelyn said."But at the end of the day, I think he saw his brother's there, and thought 'This could be a cool thing to be in school with my brother.' I think that's what drove him there," Jim added.The mom of two recalled expecting to be "devastated" by her empty nest after both of her sons went away to school but came to find she enjoyed it.<h2 id="d52e5d4c-3c4a-4b9c-916e-c13f502d2567">Timothy Piazza died as a result of hazing in February 2017</h2><div type="image" title="The Piazza family" height="1596" width="2129" msid="112875349" hostid="261" sizebytes="114618"></div>On February 2, 2017, Timothy was among the pledges who arrived at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house at about 9 p.m. for the first night of pledging. Much of the ordeal that led to his death was captured on video from surveillance cameras that had been installed in the frat house after a recent renovation. (Evelyn told BI she has seen the footage, but Jim hasn't.)According to the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://cdn.cnn.com/cnn/2017/images/12/15/penn.state.hazing.grand.jury.report.pdf">grand jury report</a>, Timothy and the other 13 pledges were made to run "the gauntlet," chugging an excessive amount of alcohol, including a handle of vodka, cans of beer, and red wine. Timothy's intake reportedly totaled <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/11/13/563840154/penn-state-student-given-18-drinks-in-82-minutes-before-hazing-death-prosecutors">18 drinks in 82 minutes</a>. This spiked his blood alcohol content level to as high as 0.36.Aaron White, the former program director for College and Underage Drinking Prevention Research at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/this-is-what-it-means-to-blow-a-341-bac-2013-9">previously told BI</a> that vital functions begin to shut down at around 0.35 BAC, but any BAC over 0.3 is considered life-threatening and poses a significant risk of death.But the young man's death was ultimately caused by an intoxicated fall down a flight of stairs to the frat house's basement. Several Beta brothers were observed carrying an unconscious and visibly injured Timothy back up the stairs, where they left him on a couch, according to the grand jury report. He later awoke and stumbled again around the room, even attempting to find his way out of the house, before once again staggering off camera toward the basement stairs and seemingly falling down them again.By the time the Beta brothers carried Timothy upstairs again, he was unconscious. Instead of calling 911, according to the report, they covered him with blankets, attempted to get him dressed, cleaned up the party, and searched the internet for head injury symptoms.Kordel Davis, a Beta brother present the night of Timothy's death who was interviewed for the A+E docuseries, described in the episode how he attempted to convince the young men to call 911 before being told to leave the house. No one called for help until it was too late.Fourteen hours after arriving at the frat house, Timothy was finally rushed to the hospital. The next day, he was dead.In the show, Jim recalls how he spoke to a doctor in the hospital when he and Evelyn finally arrived and saw Timothy's dire condition. The doctor confirmed to the distraught father that his son could have been saved if someone had gotten him medical attention sooner.<h2 id="32a6c6d6-a543-45fe-9109-b7e658bc3088">The Piazzas say the legal system doesn't take hazing seriously, and colleges need to crack down</h2><div type="image" title="Timothy Piazza" height="1524" width="2032" msid="112875347" hostid="261" sizebytes="56208"></div>Timothy's death was tragic and avoidable. But he was far from the first college student to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/students-on-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-truth-about-fraternities-2017-7">lose his life after fraternity hazing</a>. His case was, however, among the rare ones that actually resulted in criminal charges.In May 2017, 18 Beta brothers were initially charged with nearly 900 charges related to Timothy's death. Most of the defendants faced lesser charges of tampering with evidence, hazing, reckless endangerment, and furnishing alcohol to minors, but eight of the 18 were also charged with involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault.Ultimately, the most serious charges, including involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault, were all dropped by the judge.For Jim and Evelyn, the dropped charges were a "severe" disappointment — especially with all of the proof in the form of the security footage showing what had happened to Timothy."To me, it just indicated that either they're not taking it seriously or they don't understand the laws well enough," Jim said.Legal proceedings in the criminal case are still ongoing. Additional charges were brought against Beta members (both those previously charged and other members who weren't initially charged) in November 2017, after prosecutors recovered deleted footage from the night of Timothy's death.The majority of the defendants pleaded guilty to the lesser charges related to alcohol and hazing, with many only being sentenced to house arrest, probation, and/or court-ordered community service. At least two former defendants had all charges against them dropped.In April 2019, four of the Beta brothers charged pleaded guilty and were ultimately convicted of hazing and conspiracy to commit hazing. One was ordered to serve house arrest, and the other three received short sentences ranging from 30 days to nine months in jail, though those were ultimately downgraded to house arrest and probation. Two other Beta brothers pleaded guilty in July 2024 to charges including misdemeanor hazing and reckless endangerment and are scheduled to be sentenced in October.The Piazza family has also filed civil lawsuits against more than 20 former Beta members, which are also ongoing.The Piazzas <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/09/05/timothy-piazza-family-deceased-student-settles-suit-against-frat/1200155002/">settled with Beta Theta Pi's national organization</a> in September 2018 for an undisclosed monetary sum and several safety reforms, including requiring all Beta chapter houses in the country to go alcohol-free by 2020. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/02/us/piazza-penn-beta-theta-pi-wrongful-death-suit/index.html">Penn State settled with the Piazza family in 2019</a>, which included several safety reforms and Beta Theta Pi's permanent ban from their campus.The university's statement, appended to the episode, states that "student safety is of paramount importance at Penn State, and the University has consistently implemented comprehensive, evidence-based measures aimed at curbing excessive drinking and promoting responsible behavior among students."After their son's death, Evelyn and Jim fought to pass the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/r-pennsylvania-law-to-make-hazing-punishable-as-felony-2018-10">"Timothy Piazza Anti-Hazing Law" in Pennsylvania</a>, making fraternity hazing a felony punishable by up to seven years in prison in the state. Though the law is a step in the right direction, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-state-banned-fraternities-after-hazing-death-2017-11">following states like Florida that have similar legislation</a>, the Piazzas say they're disappointed that legislators seemingly aren't using the law to level charges against offenders.They say they know of instances of hazing that have occurred since the law passed, even at Penn State, where it doesn't appear legal action was taken against the perpetrators."I've sent emails to the Centre County District Attorney [where Penn State is located] to say, 'Hey, I understand it was hazing at Penn State. Where are the charges? Where's the arrests?'" Jim told BI.According to Jim, his emails went unanswered. "The legal system doesn't seem to want to deal with it."The Centre County District Attorney's office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.The Piazzas also believe that colleges need to take a harder line when disciplining students for hazing, which they think the institutions are hesitant to do because they "like to have the money" in donations from former fraternity members and tuition from the students in frats."You need people held accountable by the schools, the universities. They need to expel the students. You need accountability by the fraternities. They need to kick them out," Jim said.Penn State didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.Evelyn also pointed to the larger fraternity organizations that oversee individual chapters as being culpable in hazing deaths. She recalled seeing that at least two fraternities had announced their intention to take civil action against their own members over hazing."If they actually did that and were successful, then it would just be another proof that it is not tolerated and that you are definitely on the hook should something go wrong," she said.A representative for Beta Theta Pi's national organization said in an email statement to BI that the fraternity "continues to grieve the loss" and "remains heartbroken" for the Piazza family's loss."The events that took place that fateful evening were reprehensible and the Fraternity has consistently advocated for those involved to be held fully accountable. Simply put: Tim deserved so much more from the young men he sought to join in the name of friendship and brotherhood," the statement continues. "Hazing has no place in college fraternities, and Beta Theta Pi will continue to champion efforts at all levels aimed at ensuring a safe environment and experience for its new members and guests."<h2 id="fe9d7db7-e53a-4a13-a803-732f24cae2e2">Tips for parents of college-aged kids to prevent hazing deaths</h2><div type="image" title="Piazza family" height="1440" width="2880" msid="112875350" hostid="261" sizebytes="106656"></div>Now, the Piazza family is left only with the memory of their funny, hot-tempered, athletic, smart, video game-loving, and good-hearted son — and the determination to help other parents avoid this tragedy.Since Timothy's death, Jim and Evelyn have been outspoken against hazing, including educating parents about the dangers of it and what they can do to deter it.First, they want parents to know that even seemingly innocuous hazing rituals can, and likely will, lead to more dangerous activities.The Piazzas also underscored the importance of warning college-aged kids about the very real potential dangers of Greek life. Evelyn advises other parents to "open up that dialogue," making sure your college-aged kids know "how important they are, how much you love them, how they are not invincible, how you trust them, but that other people do bad things."The Piazzas also stress the importance of pledges banding together and walking away if they're asked to do anything illegal or damaging to themselves or someone else."Say no as a group. They're not going to throw you out. They need your money," Jim said.Evelyn and Jim also want parents to give their kids tips about how to seek help for someone else, even in the face of group intimidation."If somebody does need help, you're not a doctor. Don't question it. Call for help," Jim added. "If you feel uncomfortable calling for help in front of the rest of the organization, walk outside and call for help. Do it anonymously. It's all fine."In Timothy's memory and in honor of the career he'd hoped to have developing prosthetics for children and injured soldiers, Jim and Evelyn have set up the Timothy J. Piazza Memorial Foundation. The organization provides monetary support to those who need prosthetic devices.

Their son died after a horrific hazing ritual at Penn State. This is what they want other parents of college-aged kids to know.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Bon Iver front man Justin Vernon headlined a Harris campaign rally back in his hometown of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.</li><li>Vernon ended the band's set with a rendition of The Battle Cry of Freedom.</li></ul>Bon Iver front man Justin Vernon is so fired up by Vice President <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kamala-harris-tim-walz-progressives-record-selection-election-analysis-2024-8">Kamala Harris</a>' embrace of a "freedom" focused message that he reached back over 160 years for his last performance at a campaign rally in his hometown."We're going to close out here with a nice, old patriotic song that has been rolling around my head these last months," Vernon said before launching into a rendition of The Battle Cry of Freedom. "I love this melody, I love you all, appreciate you — we're here for the right reasons and, we all know what we're here for." Vernon, who was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and his band headlined the Wednesday afternoon Harris campaign rally. Harris previously teamed up with Megan Thee Stallion and Quavo in Atlanta to kick off her swing state tour in the run-up to the Democratic National Convention later this month.First penned in 1862, the Battle Cry of Freedom is one of the lasting songs of the Civil War era. The rousing cry for Union troops and for the abolition of slavery was so popular that the Confederate South made its own version. President <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://library.syracuse.edu/digital/exhibits/l/Lincoln/index.htm">Lincoln's campaign</a> used the song during his successful 1864 run. Lincoln's reelection was initially in doubt, but ultimately, the incumbent president held onto the White House and led the nation through the end of the Civil War.Harris has made freedom her campaign's central message since President Joe Biden's shocking decision to drop out of the 2024 race. The vice president even secured <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/beyonce-kamala-harris-campaign-trail-freedom-song-2024-7">Beyoncé's </a>permission to use "Freedom," a 2016 track that gained renewed attention after George Floyd's murder.On Tuesday night, attendees at Harris' rally to introduce her running mate, Minnesota Gov. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tim-walz-kamala-harris-vp-running-mate-democrat-president-2024-8">Tim Walz</a>, broke out into chants of "USA" when Harris emphasized her and Walz's rise from their humble roots."The promise of America is what makes it possible for two middle-class kids — one a daughter of Oakland, California, who was raised by a working mother. The other a son of the Nebraska plains who grew up working on a farm. It's the promise of America, because only in America — only in America is it possible for them together to make it all the way to the White House," Harris said.

Bon Iver's lead man sings Civil War-era anthem at a Harris rally     

<ul class="summary-list"><li>18 people have died after a small passenger plane crashed during takeoff in Kathmandu, Nepal.</li><li>Nepal has a poor aviation safety record and all of its airlines are banned from European airspace.</li></ul>18 people have died after a small passenger airplane crashed during takeoff in Nepal's capital city, Kathmandu.The plane's captain is the only remaining survivor of the 19 onboard, including two crew members and 17 technicians of the airline, who were traveling to Pokhara, reportedly for aircraft maintenance.The Saurya Airlines flight skidded off the runway at approximately 11.15 a.m. local time, <a target="_blank" href="https://kathmandupost.com/province-no-3/2024/07/24/caan-confirms-18-aboard-saurya-airlines-dead-one-rescued">according to The Kathmandu Post</a>.All 18 bodies have been recovered from the crash site at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal. The pilot, Captain Manish Ratna Shkya, was rescued and is being treated for injuries at Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching Hospital.Videos and photos posted online showed billows of black smoke emerging from the wreckage of the plane, then on fire but since put out by firefighters.The search and rescue coordination of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said in a recently released statement that the plane "veered off to the right and crashed on the east side of the runway.""Rescue operations were initiated immediately," it said. "The fire was brought under control," the statement added.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-nepal-has-so-many-fatal-plane-crashes-2023-1">Nepal has a poor aviation safety record</a> and is often regarded as one of the most dangerous countries for air travel. All Nepali air carriers are banned from entering the airspace of any European Union country, <a target="_blank" href="https://transport.ec.europa.eu/document/download/3195fabb-7575-4db9-85b9-ec5a77b481aa_en?filename=air-safety-list-2024-05-30_en.pdf">per the EU Air Safety List</a>.The European Union Aviation Safety Agency bans airlines from operating in the EU for "failure to adhere to the applicable international safety standards."Professor Ron Bartch, chairman and founding director of aviation consultancy firm AvLaw, told Business Insider that one reason for its poor safety record is that the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal is "not a terribly well-resourced safety regulator."The CAAN did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.Nepal's mountainous terrain, unpredictable weather, and remote runways have contributed to the country's reputation as one of the most difficult places to fly.Kathmandu's high altitude makes for a "challenging operating environment," Bartch added, noting that this means a greater distance and an accelerated approach speed are required for takeoff and landing as the air is less dense than at sea level.He also said Nepal's monsoonal conditions affect the country's aviation safety.The deadliest plane crash in Nepal in three decades occurred in January 2023, when at least <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/folk-singer-hotelier-travel-blogger-among-victims-nepal-plane-crash-2023-1">72 people were killed</a> after a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/video-nepal-plane-was-spinning-sharply-before-crash-40-reported-killed-2023-1">Yeti Airlines flight went down near Pokhara</a>, which government investigators later attributed to the aircraft's pilots accidentally cutting off the power.In 1992, all 167 passengers on board a Pakistan International Airlines flight to Kathmandu died when the Airbus crashed on approach to the airport.Since 2000, more than 350 people have died in Nepal in 19 air crashes.

Nepal just suffered another fatal plane crash. Its aviation safety record is so poor that all its airlines are banned from flying to most of Europe.

An <keyword id="19904566" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Artificial-Intelligence" source="keywords">Artificial Intelligence</keyword> based app, <keyword id="20992270" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PadhAI" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="PadhAI" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="PadhAI">PadhAI</keyword>, scored over 170 marks out of 200 in the <keyword id="6373840" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="upsc" source="Orion">UPSC</keyword> preliminary exams 2024 solving the entire paper within seven minutes and qualifying above the general score which usually remains under 100. The score places PadhAI's score in the top 10 nationally, if not rank 1, an official release said. The app developed by a team of IITians took the exam in a public setting on Sunday, right after the UPSC preliminary exam in presence of guests from the education sector, UPSC community, and media professionals at Delhi's The Lalit hotel. It took under seven minutes to solve the entire paper, the release said. The event was live-streamed at livestream.padhai.ai and YouTube, where the questions and answers are publicly available, it added. The <keyword id="6355999" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI" source="Orion">AI</keyword>'s answers were also compared with broad AI models commercially available from big tech companies such as OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google by using answer keys released by top coaching institutes. "This is the highest score achieved in the last 10 years of UPSC exams. We believe that while our event is first of its kind, in a few years, such events will become commonplace as several educational institutions race to solve papers quickly and precisely with AIs," PadhAI's CEO Karttikeya Mangalam said. PadhAI is an AI X Education app for UPSC preparation available on the Google Play Store. It claims to offer several AI features, including news summaries, smart PYQ search, doubt clarification, interactive answer explanations, book summary.

AI app 'PadhAI' solves UPSC 2024 prelim exam paper in seven minutes, scores 170 out of 200!

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A top game streamer admitted to messaging a minor in 2017.</li><li>That's why the Amazon-owned Twitch platform mysteriously booted him in 2020, Dr Disrespect said.</li></ul>Exactly four years ago today, one of the biggest stars on Amazon-owned Twitch was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dr-disrespect-banned-from-twitch-report-permanent-2020-6">mysteriously booted from the video game streaming platform</a>.The company didn't reveal much about the reason why at the time. But the mysterious circumstances surrounding the ban have now been revealed.On Tuesday, that streamer, Guy Beahm — better known by his "Dr Disrespect" persona — shared why. He'd sent messages "that sometimes leaned too much in the direction of being inappropriate" to a minor over Twitch in 2017, <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/DrDisrespect/status/1805668256088572089">he revealed in an explosive statement on X</a>."Were there twitch whisper messages with an individual minor back in 2017? The answer is yes," Beahm wrote, referencing the "Whisper" direct messaging product on the platform. "Were there real intentions behind these messages, the answer is absolutely not."The revelation sent shockwaves throughout the gaming world and led to swift repercussions as multiple companies severed ties with the content creator, known for his online streams playing "Call of Duty" and other games that draw millions of views.Beahm moved to YouTube after his Twitch ban — though he's never announced a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/twitch-defections-to-youtube-paint-incomplete-picture-of-livestreaming-2022-7">formal streaming contract with YouTube</a>, and he's been <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/DrDisrespect/status/1521284955082412032">critical of the platform</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/DrDisrespect/status/1714320986919874813">over the years</a>.On his livestreams, the 42-year-old Beahm wears a black mullet wig, and has cultivated the brash persona of Dr Disrespect as "the most ruthless, athletic competitor in video game history," per his Instagram profile.So why did this all come to light now?Beahm's statement confirming his messages to a minor comes days after a former Twitch employee <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/evoli/status/1804309358106546676">said on X</a> that an unnamed streamer, widely believed to be referring to Beahm, had been "caught sexting a minor" and "trying to meet up with her at TwitchCon" — a convention hosted by the Amazon-owned platform.In the days that followed the Twitch employee's social media post, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/25/24185821/dr-disrespect-twitch-ban-explanation-inappropriate-messages">The Verge</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-06-25/youtuber-dr-disrespect-was-allegedly-kicked-off-twitch-for-messaging-minor">Bloomberg</a> separately reported that Beahm had been banned from the platform for messaging a minor.<h2 id="03317cf2-795b-4217-9af2-91a29429bcad">'Nothing illegal happened'</h2>In his statement, Beahm denied being a predator or pedophile."Nothing illegal happened, no pictures were shared, no crimes were committed, I never even met the individual," he wrote. Beahm also said he'd settled a civil suit with Twitch over the ban. A spokesperson for Twitch did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment ahead of publication.The fallout from the reports and Beahm's post has been swift.Midnight Society, a game development studio he cofounded in 2021, <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/12am/status/1805341504086622355">announced on Monday</a> it had terminated its relationship with Beahm following its own investigation into the matter."If you inappropriately message a minor," Midnight Society studio head Ryan Bowling <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/fourzerotwo/status/1805671144412049732">wrote on X</a>, "I can not work with you."Beahm confirmed he was leaving Midnight Society in his own statement, but vowed not to "disappear," saying he would return after an extended vacation with his family "with a heavy weight off my shoulders."Beahm did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.<h2 id="ebe6c627-e17d-4329-90b0-bad5d5a159c8">Former brand partners are distancing themselves</h2><div type="image" title="Video-game streamer Dr DisRespect announces the San Francisco 49ers' 93rd overall pick during round three of the 2022 NFL Draft on April 29, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada." height="3478" width="5440" msid="111294785" hostid="261"></div>Since his Twitch ban, Beahm has been active on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@DrDisRespect/featured">YouTube</a>, where he counts 4.7 million subscribers and streams games like "Elden Ring" or "Call of Duty: Warzone."YouTube did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.A spokesperson for CAA, the talent agency to which <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/twitch-streamer-drdisrespect-signs-caa-1175330/">Beahm signed in 2019</a>, told Business Insider, "He is no longer a client of ours and he hasn't been for some time now."Other brand partners have distanced themselves from Beahm in the wake of his admission.Gaming headset maker Turtle Beach <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ign.com/articles/how-dr-disrespects-sponsors-and-partners-are-responding-to-twitch-ban-allegations-updated">told IGN</a> it would not be continuing its relationship with Beahm. A spokesperson for the San Francisco 49ers, another former partner, <a target="_blank" href="https://digiday.com/marketing/as-controversy-builds-the-clock-is-ticking-for-noted-livestreamer-dr-disrespects-sponsors/">told Digiday</a> it would not work with Beahm going forward.

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